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

I don't think anyone has noted that they have started excavating the Don River sediment and debris management area on west side of Don River just north of the Aecon tents that were used for the Gardiner work.
Were the old rail yard tracks used to be? I noticed that. Wasn't sure whether that was Don Yard related or debris management related, or both.
From Google maps:
1617043918492.png

And from just now.
PXL_20210329_194909685.jpg
 
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Were the old rail yard tracks used to be? I noticed that. Wasn't sure whether that was Don Yard related or debris management related, or both.
From Google maps:
View attachment 308772
And from just now.
View attachment 308777
I would say a bit further south as I think MOST of that rail yard (used for Union station Rail Corridor maintenance is remaining. The blue circle on map may be a better location.
don-river.jpg
 
I would say a bit further south as I think MOST of that rail yard (used for Union station Rail Corridor maintenance is remaining. The blue circle on map may be a better location.
View attachment 308778
Go is planning to expand their yard onto the space occupied by the smaller freight yard to the south that services the Portland’s.

from what I recall there is actually quite a grade difference between the two so it will probably involve a good amount of fill.
 
Here is the WT announcement: on the debris area.
Truck crossing at Lower Don Trail
Starting in March and continuing through spring 2021, construction vehicles will intermittently cross the Lower Don Recreational Trail on weekdays between the hours of 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. See map below for truck routes. Currently, no work is scheduled on weekends. Crews will be clearing trees and preparing the area for excavation. This is the future Sediment and Debris Management Area west of Don Roadway and north of Lake Shore Boulevard (see map below). Widening and deepening the Don River at this location is a critical part of our design for flood protection.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
  • Signs are installed on the trail to alert cyclists and pedestrians to possible truck crossing.
  • Signs will also be installed to ensure truck operators are aware that they must yield to cyclists and pedestrians.
  • A flagperson will control traffic at these locations, giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists.
  • The trail will be cleaned continuously.
 
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Here's the notice for the Sediment and Debris Management Area, and here's the link to the CPS website with the project documents.

Project description from the application on CPS website.

"The Sediment and Debris Management Area (SDMA) has been designed to facilitate sediment collection at this location.
The in-water work planned in the SDMA includes reinforcement of existing dockwalls, partial construction of new dockwalls, widening the river, dredging of the river and the creation of an interim floodplain beneath the existing Gardiner Expressway. A debris boom is being proposed (as seen in L504) to replace the existing log booms in the Lower Don River.
There will be approximately 300 m of permanent and temporary dockwall installed on the west side of the river and approximately 250 m on the east. The top of wall for the dockwalls on the east has an elevation of 76.8 (0.7m above HLL) and top of wall elevation of 76.25 (0.16m above HLL) on the west. An interim flood plain with a 4:1 slope is being constructed to overtop in a flood event, it will partially be submerged at high water.
Following the reinforcement of the dockwalls, the Lower Don River will be dredged to a bed elevation between 69-70 m. Scour protection will be installed in the Don River narrows.
Finally, a debris boom is proposed to replace the existing log booms. The debris boom is proposed to capture debris in the Lower Don River and prevent it from entering the newly created river channel and valley and Inner Harbour. This boom will be anchored north of the existing westbound Gardiner ramp on the east bank and north of the graded area on the west bank, as seen in L504.
A flow curtain is proposed south of the Lake Shore Bridge to influence flow splits between the Keating Channel and the new river channel. The curtain has been designed to remain in place during low flows ,and automatically open to allow for the passage of high flows to the Keating Channel. The curtain includes a 3.0m wide x 1.0m deep fixed opening at the midspan to allow for small recreational vessel passage. When in the open position, the flow curtain will float along the north dockwall in the Keating Channel."

The application says work is starting July 2021, but there's clearly something going on as trees along the Lower Don River trail have been removed along with some of the buildings under the Gardiner ramps. There's been a whole bunch of equipment beyond the fence north of the Don River trail (behind the fence of this photo), hard to tell if it's connected to the SDMA or Metrolinx Wilson Yard project.

Some more detailed drawings on the CPS website.

Wahed
 
View attachment 310076
Here's the notice for the Sediment and Debris Management Area, and here's the link to the CPS website with the project documents.

Project description from the application on CPS website.

"The Sediment and Debris Management Area (SDMA) has been designed to facilitate sediment collection at this location.
The in-water work planned in the SDMA includes reinforcement of existing dockwalls, partial construction of new dockwalls, widening the river, dredging of the river and the creation of an interim floodplain beneath the existing Gardiner Expressway. A debris boom is being proposed (as seen in L504) to replace the existing log booms in the Lower Don River.
There will be approximately 300 m of permanent and temporary dockwall installed on the west side of the river and approximately 250 m on the east. The top of wall for the dockwalls on the east has an elevation of 76.8 (0.7m above HLL) and top of wall elevation of 76.25 (0.16m above HLL) on the west. An interim flood plain with a 4:1 slope is being constructed to overtop in a flood event, it will partially be submerged at high water.
Following the reinforcement of the dockwalls, the Lower Don River will be dredged to a bed elevation between 69-70 m. Scour protection will be installed in the Don River narrows.
Finally, a debris boom is proposed to replace the existing log booms. The debris boom is proposed to capture debris in the Lower Don River and prevent it from entering the newly created river channel and valley and Inner Harbour. This boom will be anchored north of the existing westbound Gardiner ramp on the east bank and north of the graded area on the west bank, as seen in L504.
A flow curtain is proposed south of the Lake Shore Bridge to influence flow splits between the Keating Channel and the new river channel. The curtain has been designed to remain in place during low flows ,and automatically open to allow for the passage of high flows to the Keating Channel. The curtain includes a 3.0m wide x 1.0m deep fixed opening at the midspan to allow for small recreational vessel passage. When in the open position, the flow curtain will float along the north dockwall in the Keating Channel."

The application says work is starting July 2021, but there's clearly something going on as trees along the Lower Don River trail have been removed along with some of the buildings under the Gardiner ramps. There's been a whole bunch of equipment beyond the fence north of the Don River trail (behind the fence of this photo), hard to tell if it's connected to the SDMA or Metrolinx Wilson Yard project.

Some more detailed drawings on the CPS website.

Wahed
It always amazes me that the Don River is still considered navigable!. I actually cannot see it separately listed in the Schedule to the Act but I suppose it may be included under:

69Lake Ontario43°47′43″ N, 77°54′19″ WThe lake’s water boundary includes the mouths of all connecting waterways

The Humber is listed,

50Humber River43°37′55″ N, 79°28′19″ W43°39′08″ N, 79°29′44″ WFrom the rapids at Old Mill to Lake Ontario

See: https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-22/page-11.html#h-365179
 
A few photos from today.
The thermal soil treatment plant north of Commissioners St.
PXL_20210407_192921278.jpg


Looking north west on Commissioners toward Cherry.
PXL_20210407_192935096.jpg


Saw this driving down Villiers St. Not where they're building tunnels. Maybe the Coxwell Sanitary Sewer project?
PXL_20210407_193508517.jpg

The river channel south of Villiers St. They are calling this an ice management area. Wonder how that works.

PXL_20210407_193703182.jpg

PXL_20210407_193903236.jpg


From the debris management area.
PXL_20210407_195946589.jpg

PXL_20210407_200132050.jpg
 

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