nfitz
Superstar
There's a glut of such projects, and the cost probably has more to do with each companies lost opportunity cost, than any inputs.
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Automation Gallery
Superstar
Any one know whats keeping this much needed project from proceeding.
I hope it does not take the city another 10 years to find the cash to get this thing moving.
I hope it does not take the city another 10 years to find the cash to get this thing moving.
Automation Gallery
Superstar
This was back in early September.
Does anyone know if the Toronto city council ever approved this contract?
Towered
Senior Member
I drove by the site a few weeks ago and there finally seemed to be work underway.
Automation Gallery
Superstar
drum118
Superstar
Was by it today and only saw a CN and TTR pickup on the north side of Queen on top with both drivers looking down and at their watches.
Saw a Dufferin Construction sign just west of Dufferin.
Otherwise, nothing taking place.
Will post video later.
You're going to post a video of two drivers looking down at their watches?
42
42
marcus_a_j
Senior Member
Now that's reality TV.
drum118
Superstar
This is at street level. In a year time, this will look different. The other one at rail level has yet to surface for some reason. You would think I would waste time shooting those 2 guy's??
drum118
Superstar
Thanks to the mess on Bloor Friday, end up taking the GO train to the core that was 10 minutes late thank to CP running trains in front of it.
The northbound train was also delay by the southbound for some reason over 10 minutes considering it was going to be on track 2 in the first place well we were on 1.
Shot a video of the area, but the other train block some view. No real work taking place.
Another video shot on the 5 at the south end at track level
The northbound train was also delay by the southbound for some reason over 10 minutes considering it was going to be on track 2 in the first place well we were on 1.
Shot a video of the area, but the other train block some view. No real work taking place.
Another video shot on the 5 at the south end at track level
Prometheus The Supremo
►Member №41+⅜◄
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thanks for the updates drum.
yyzer
Senior Member
from today's Daily Commercial News....
Infrastructure
Toronto’s zig-zagging Dufferin Street ready for realignment
IAN HARVEY
correspondent
toronto
It may be a historic bend in the road, but there won’t be any tears of nostalgia when the $32-million realignment of Dufferin Street in Toronto’s west end is completed.
The maddening and abrupt southern end of the north-south street, which has a pair of hooks to make it a traffic bottleneck and is a headache for local residents, is about to undergo a massive transformation to straighten it out.
The plan is to realign the thoroughfare south of Queen Street West, where it currently terminates for traffic coming north. Motorists coming from the Gardiner Expressway and the Canadian National Exhibition ground – and all those Toronto F.C. fans heading home after the game – must make a series of zig zag turns on several streets to get back to Dufferin Street again.
The situation has been created through some unusual planning brought on by a railway right of way.
The grade separation dates to 1884 and eliminating it has been on the books since 1966. But the project never before made it to the top of the priority list.
As such, the configuration has been a thorn in the community’s side for decades. City structural engineer Jim Schaffner says connecting the stub of Dufferin Street on the north side to the tail end on the south side at Queen St. West will return Gladstone Avenue and Peel Street to the local residents and relieve it of the heavy traffic it currently experiences.
Dufferin Construction won the $25-million contract to build an underpass which will require lifting a steel girder rail bridge across Queen Street West a metre or so to allow some modifications without disrupting CN and GO train service. The bridge will then be lowered back down.
Site preparation is already under way and work is expected to stretch through the summer into next winter with completion by December 2009. Ancillary projects include items such as landscaping, art, bicycle lanes and lighting.
“There are some blackout days they can’t interfere with traffic because of events and the CNE,†says Schaffner. “But they’re an experienced company and they should have no problems.â€
The cast-in-place concrete tunnel will carry two northbound and two southbound lanes of traffic with sidewalks and bicycle lanes. The walls will be adorned with public art, which a committee is currently investigating, says Schaffner.
Concrete was chosen as the preferred method of construction because it allowed minimum structural depth between rail and structural soffit, minimum visual intrusion and material requirements, minimum risk and the shortest construction period. It was also the most cost effective solution.
“It’s going to be a challenge,†says Eddy Marin, Dufferin Construction’s district manager. “The bridge work is being done by CN but we have to work around the trains, the traffic in the city there – which is brutal – and I think the biggest challenge will be around the underground utilities in the area.â€
Still, he says, when complete the area will get a much needed esthetics boost.
“It really is going to look beautiful when it’s done,†he says. “We got the start authorization Dec. 1 and we figure on finishing by spring 2010.â€
The grade rises quickly from south to north just as to roadway exits the tunnel and the rail line overhead limit the height of the tunnel which could impact CN and Toronto hydro maintenance and lighting requirements.
On the south side it will also open up what is essentially wasted industrial land to redevelopment and landscaping, providing the area with some much needed gentrification, a process which has been ongoing for the last five years with the renovation of the Drake and Gladstone hotels and the burgeoning artist and young urban population.
In addition to improved traffic flow and safety, benefits include better transit speed, increased emergency vehicle access and response times, better air quality, lower noise levels and a savings of 250,000 litres of fuel because drivers won’t be stuck idling in traffic jams.
Infrastructure
Toronto’s zig-zagging Dufferin Street ready for realignment
IAN HARVEY
correspondent
toronto
It may be a historic bend in the road, but there won’t be any tears of nostalgia when the $32-million realignment of Dufferin Street in Toronto’s west end is completed.
The maddening and abrupt southern end of the north-south street, which has a pair of hooks to make it a traffic bottleneck and is a headache for local residents, is about to undergo a massive transformation to straighten it out.
The plan is to realign the thoroughfare south of Queen Street West, where it currently terminates for traffic coming north. Motorists coming from the Gardiner Expressway and the Canadian National Exhibition ground – and all those Toronto F.C. fans heading home after the game – must make a series of zig zag turns on several streets to get back to Dufferin Street again.
The situation has been created through some unusual planning brought on by a railway right of way.
The grade separation dates to 1884 and eliminating it has been on the books since 1966. But the project never before made it to the top of the priority list.
As such, the configuration has been a thorn in the community’s side for decades. City structural engineer Jim Schaffner says connecting the stub of Dufferin Street on the north side to the tail end on the south side at Queen St. West will return Gladstone Avenue and Peel Street to the local residents and relieve it of the heavy traffic it currently experiences.
Dufferin Construction won the $25-million contract to build an underpass which will require lifting a steel girder rail bridge across Queen Street West a metre or so to allow some modifications without disrupting CN and GO train service. The bridge will then be lowered back down.
Site preparation is already under way and work is expected to stretch through the summer into next winter with completion by December 2009. Ancillary projects include items such as landscaping, art, bicycle lanes and lighting.
“There are some blackout days they can’t interfere with traffic because of events and the CNE,†says Schaffner. “But they’re an experienced company and they should have no problems.â€
The cast-in-place concrete tunnel will carry two northbound and two southbound lanes of traffic with sidewalks and bicycle lanes. The walls will be adorned with public art, which a committee is currently investigating, says Schaffner.
Concrete was chosen as the preferred method of construction because it allowed minimum structural depth between rail and structural soffit, minimum visual intrusion and material requirements, minimum risk and the shortest construction period. It was also the most cost effective solution.
“It’s going to be a challenge,†says Eddy Marin, Dufferin Construction’s district manager. “The bridge work is being done by CN but we have to work around the trains, the traffic in the city there – which is brutal – and I think the biggest challenge will be around the underground utilities in the area.â€
Still, he says, when complete the area will get a much needed esthetics boost.
“It really is going to look beautiful when it’s done,†he says. “We got the start authorization Dec. 1 and we figure on finishing by spring 2010.â€
The grade rises quickly from south to north just as to roadway exits the tunnel and the rail line overhead limit the height of the tunnel which could impact CN and Toronto hydro maintenance and lighting requirements.
On the south side it will also open up what is essentially wasted industrial land to redevelopment and landscaping, providing the area with some much needed gentrification, a process which has been ongoing for the last five years with the renovation of the Drake and Gladstone hotels and the burgeoning artist and young urban population.
In addition to improved traffic flow and safety, benefits include better transit speed, increased emergency vehicle access and response times, better air quality, lower noise levels and a savings of 250,000 litres of fuel because drivers won’t be stuck idling in traffic jams.
Dan416
Senior Member
It's too bad there wasn't any space left for a future Dufferin LRT. God knows Dufferin could use one.
Towered
Senior Member
If one gets built, it'll have to go underground anyway because of the narrow street width, so we're not losing out here I think. A mixed-traffic streetcar would not be an ideal solution to Dufferin's transit woes - it needs something greater, and once a DRL subway stop is built at this intersection, I think an LRT line should be started under the street from the Ex all the way up to at least Yorkdale.
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nfitz
Superstar
No. Dufferin is no narrow than Dundas, Bathurst, Gerrard, much of King, Queen, College. Streetcar service runs quite well on Bathurst and other streets outside of the core, simply with turn and lane restrictions. I see no reason it wouldn't work well on Dufferin, despite the current TTC mantra.