Toronto Lower Simcoe Ramp | ?m | ?s | City of Toronto

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
==========================================

This media advisory was issued earlier today through CanadaNewsWire, on behalf of the City of Toronto.

Media Advisory

January 26, 2018

City of Toronto to open new eastbound ramp from the Gardiner Expressway to York/Bay/Yonge Streets

Mayor John Tory will be joined by Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25 Don Valley West), Chair of the City of Toronto's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, to announce the opening of the new eastbound York/Bay/Yonge ramp from the Gardiner Expressway to Lower Simcoe and Harbour Streets.

Date: Sunday, January 28
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Gardiner Expressway's York/Bay/Yonge eastbound off ramp (south of Harbour Street on Lower Simcoe Street)
Parking: Media vehicles can park within the fenced enclosed portion of the roadway, on the east side of Lower Simcoe Street, directly across from the bottom of the new ramp.

Please note: Areas beside the ramp are still active construction zones and will be off limits. Media may only access the ramp from the bottom, up to the point where two crash trucks will be stationed. No access is permitted beyond the trucks for health and safety reasons.

The Gardiner Expressway ramp at Spadina Avenue will be closed and there will be no access to Lake Shore Boulevard eastbound. A previously unlocked gate will be closed in preparation for the ramp opening.
 
How soon until the first accident. My understanding is that the ramp is much steeper than before with worse sightlines.
 
They should put a test brake sign.

What they should have:
stock-photo-regulatory-road-sign-in-quebec-canada-compulsory-brake-check-the-text-means-verification-320966846.jpg

From link.

What Ontario will have they put up:
P1150994_brake_check1.jpg


From link.
 
Press Release AFTER the opening.

Mayor John Tory was joined by Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25 Don Valley West), Chair of the City of Toronto's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, to announce the opening of the new eastbound York/Bay/Yonge ramp from the Gardiner Expressway to Lower Simcoe Street and Harbour Street, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. today.

The project began in 2016 with the construction of the new ramp foundation and substructure. In April 2017, the existing ramp was closed and demolished while construction of the new ramp continued. The project includes a new, shorter ramp to provide access to the waterfront, Harbour Street widened from three to four lanes between Lower Simcoe and Bay Streets, and a dedicated multi-use trail to improve pedestrian and cyclist access to the waterfront.

"This ramp was completed on time, despite encountering severe problems with a storm sewer on Harbour Street and an early winter," said Mayor Tory. "Investing in Toronto's infrastructure is the only way to ease congestion and to keep traffic moving. The demolition of the old ramp has transformed the area and has improved access to the waterfront."

The new ramp exits at Lower Simcoe Street and provides motorists with improved access to Lower Simcoe, York, Bay and Yonge Streets. An animation of how traffic will flow in the area is available at https://youtu.be/NzhY3arG1Gk.

"This new ramp is part of a larger plan to restore the Gardiner and creates better access to the downtown core and waterfront,” said Councillor Robinson. “The demolition of the old ramp also freed up land for a new park in the area, which is great for the city."

This $30-million project was part of a larger $700-million investment made in 2017 by the City to renew aging infrastructure with an estimated expenditure of $310 million for roads and bridges, $310 million for sewers and watermains, and $70 million for basement flooding protection work.

The new ramp is steeper than the previous ramp and uses an automated anti-icing spray technology. This system is being used for the first time in Toronto but has been used by the Ministry of Transportation in the past to reduce collisions. The system will rely on weather and road condition data to determine when to apply a biodegradable, potassium acetate solution to the ramp surface to prevent ice formation.

The design of the new ramp creates space for new parkland. A public consultation process is underway for this joint initiative between Waterfront Toronto and the City's Parks, Forestry and Recreation division.

Completion of the final aspects of the project will begin in the spring when weather is more favourable and will include permanent traffic signals, a new curb on the north side of Harbour Street between York and Bay Streets, installation of a multi-use trail on the south side of Harbour Street, the final top coat of asphalt on Harbour Street between Lower Simcoe and Bay Streets, and installation of planters and streetscape elements on Harbour Street.

More information about this project is available at http://www.toronto.ca/simcoe-ramp.
 
just read this: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...joice-the-new-gardiner-exit-ramp-is-open.html

stated:
Streetscaping and a multi-use trail along Harbour St. have yet to be finished, held up by the discovery during construction that at some point cement had been dumped into a sewer. It had to be removed before the sewer could be replaced. The streetscaping and trail work are expected to begin this spring.
Click to expand...

So that explains some delays. Wonder who dumped the cement and how long its been like that.
 
Here are couple photos from today:

20180128_143402.jpg
20180128_163719.jpg
20180128_163729.jpg


Btw, there is no more left turn from Lower Simcoe onto Lake Shore Westbound. I wonder what will happen with all the "game-goers" leaving the garage on 200 Queens Quay West.
 

Attachments

  • 20180128_143402.jpg
    20180128_143402.jpg
    188 KB · Views: 457
  • 20180128_163719.jpg
    20180128_163719.jpg
    211.3 KB · Views: 478
  • 20180128_163729.jpg
    20180128_163729.jpg
    208.3 KB · Views: 475
  • Like
Reactions: pav
4:01, first illegal car used the ramp and was follow by a few more minutes later. The first car was already pass the ramp lane and noticed the construction pylon being remove with an opening to gain access to the ramp by driving over the 2 solid lines separating the lanes to get to the ramp.

4:05, the first official lane is open to traffic, but few driver were using the ramp. Don't when all the construction pylon on the Gardiner were remove, since I left before then, but would be about 5 pm. They were backing up the trucks to get all the pylons slowly.

There has always been a No Left Turn off Lake Shore West at Simcoe according to City Staff and were surprise to see one take place in front of them. Then that diver parked illegal in the fire lane of the condo next to the ramp with 4 ways on for over a haft an hour. There is now a No Right Turn for eastbound on the Lake Shore onto Simcoe as well No Left Turn off Simcoe to Lake Shore W, as well No Right Turn on a Red off Simcoe for the new road.

Everyone is concern about the pinch point were the ramp traffic will try to cross 2 lanes to make that left turn at York due to the shortness of it. The police expect to receive many calls for collisions for this area. The area will be monitor with changes taking place on the fly.

If you are in the first dozen cars getting a green after sitting for the red, you will have easy access to the York Left Turn Lane since the eastbound traffic is delay with the advance green left turn at Simcoe.

Spring/summer will see the rest of the sidewalks and plants being done as well repaving the Simcoe ramp intersection with new marking including all lanes from Simcoe to east of Bay.

More to come:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top