Toronto Lower Don Lands Redevelopment | ?m | ?s | Waterfront Toronto

Sediment and debris are largely to be managed north of Lakeshore blvd
From

Dredging in the Keating Channel

at this link.

Each year, thousands of tonnes of sediment build up in the area where the Don River empties into the Keating Channel. If not removed, this build-up could cause the river to back up and flood, with debris spilling into Toronto's harbour.

Annually, PortsToronto removes approximately 40,000 cubic metres of dredged material from the mouth of the Don River.

The dredging process involves scooping material from the bottom of the channel using a clam bucket on a crane called a "dredger." Once removed from the channel bed, the muddy mixture of debris and sediment is transported by barge to the Leslie Street Spit for proper containment in what is called a “cell” or Confined Disposal Facility (CDF). Each of the cells located at the Spit were designed by PortsToronto to properly and safely contain natural material dredged from the Keating Channel.
 
This is Toronto planning at its best. John Tory and Enbridge's PR Department did not address why this project was not started and completed BEFORE they tore down the east part of the Gardiner. John Tory dangles a future announcement, but we all know it going to be many many years of traffic getting worse before it ever gets better.

 
This is Toronto planning at its best. John Tory and Enbridge's PR Department did not address why this project was not started and completed BEFORE they tore down the east part of the Gardiner. John Tory dangles a future announcement, but we all know it going to be many many years of traffic getting worse before it ever gets better.

This Enbridge project was not planned (or, I think, even contemplated) when the Gardiner was torn down and the exact route for the new/replacement pipeline not determined until even later - initially they wanted to dig up all of Queens Quay. That said, the traffic on Lake Shore - particularly westbound - HAS been dreadful for several months and it has not been helped by the fact that the blockage of Cherry @ Lake Shore meant (means) vehicles cannot filter off at Cherry. This seems to be getting ready to be able to be opened, at least for west to northbound traffic but ... It should also be noted that the demolition of the east end of the Gardiner needed to happen before the work on the Lake Shore new bridge over the Don needed because of the widening the lower Don so this really was a perfect storm of major projects that needed to be done in the right order.
 
This Enbridge project was not planned (or, I think, even contemplated) when the Gardiner was torn down and the exact route for the new/replacement pipeline not determined until even later - initially they wanted to dig up all of Queens Quay. That said, the traffic on Lake Shore - particularly westbound - HAS been dreadful for several months and it has not been helped by the fact that the blockage of Cherry @ Lake Shore meant (means) vehicles cannot filter off at Cherry. This seems to be getting ready to be able to be opened, at least for west to northbound traffic but ... It should also be noted that the demolition of the east end of the Gardiner needed to happen before the work on the Lake Shore new bridge over the Don needed because of the widening the lower Don so this really was a perfect storm of major projects that needed to be done in the right order.
Yes but that brings us back to planning, if the said gas pipes were so old, why was this not planned for in advance? Clearly Enbridge was aware of the growth plans for the area for a number of years and the age of their infrastructure. We knew the Garinder would be demolished for years. What was the cause of this emergency repair and why the Queens Quay route not used? Our city planners need to explain why and how these decesions are made. Why was the info not replayed to residents in advance? This project has been causing delays for months. In the late summer, the delay was further east and it bottle necked at the Jarvis on-ramp and Police had to be posted at that onramp due to road rage. As the elderly lady shown in the video states, it should not take over three hour hours to travel 2-3 kms. This is cleartly not acceptable and Toronto residents (and businesses) need accurate timelines to help manage their expectations.
A fluff quote from Enbridge's PR Dept and a future promise from the Mayor is just not cutting it anymore.
 
In my experience Enbridge work quite fast and tidy up their sites when the work is done. Toronto Hydro are FAR worse 'citizens"! Could both of them plan a bit better? Yes, of course though much of their upgrade work needs to get permission from their regulator so they do not have total control over when approvals will be granted.
 
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Doesn't traffic affect the majority of transit routes in the city? Discouraging car usage by making it impractical with bottlenecks ( a patio in the curb lane of a rush hour route ) or road designs (right hand turn lanes instead of left hand turn lanes on streets with a single traffic lane in each direction) discourages transit usage just the same.
 
Doesn't traffic affect the majority of transit routes in the city? Discouraging car usage by making it impractical with bottlenecks ( a patio in the curb lane of a rush hour route ) or road designs (right hand turn lanes instead of left hand turn lanes on streets with a single traffic lane in each direction) discourages transit usage just the same.
70Challenger mentioned trains, which wouldn't be affected by traffic. But your point is well taken. Buses and streetcars (where they don't have dedicated lanes) are certainly affected the same way as cars.
 
70Challenger mentioned trains, which wouldn't be affected by traffic. But your point is well taken. Buses and streetcars (where they don't have dedicated lanes) are certainly affected the same way as cars.
Think of that truck headed to Loblaws, The LCBO, Crappy Tire, or your local dinner. How does that affect the price they charge them (ultimately us), if they are sitting over 3 hours just to travel 2 KMs? We all pay one way or another for bad planning.
 
Think of that truck headed to Loblaws, The LCBO, Crappy Tire, or your local dinner. How does that affect the price they charge them (ultimately us), if they are sitting over 3 hours just to travel 2 KMs? We all pay one way or another for bad planning.
And businesses that choose to have their deliveries during non-peak hours will not see a difference. Everyone has options.
 

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