Toronto Queens Quay & Water's Edge Revitalization | ?m | ?s | Waterfront Toronto

[Megaton327]

West of York street got the first coat of asphalt only.

When I was there later this afternoon, around 6-7PM, it looked to me like it had been fully paved and was level with the section East of York. Asphalt cools quickly so they may have done the second coat immediately after the first, but I didn't get to look to closely so I'm not certain...I'll try to look more closely one of these days.

 

[Zeiss]

When I was there later this afternoon, around 6-7PM, it looked to me like it had been fully paved and was level with the section East of York. Asphalt cools quickly so they may have done the second coat immediately after the first, but I didn't get to look to closely so I'm not certain...I'll try to look more closely one of these days.

I took the pictures around noon. As I mentioned, between York and Bay is done, ready for the paint.

I asked the workers when they are supposed to apply asphalt on the road and they told me that it is not the same company doing the road. And that they will be working even Sunday in order to finish on time for the opening .

 

[yrt+viva=1system]

West of York street got the first coat of asphalt only.

View attachment 46679

I am not specialist, but wouldn't it be better if they have cleaned the concrete surface from dust to assure that the asphalt sticks to the concrete?

View attachment 46680

What you are seeing is a compacted base before the base layer of asphalt (first layer) goes on. This might not be a roadway so they are just paving directly onto the compacted base (cost saving). If this was a roadway though, the contractor must spray a layer of tack coat in order for the asphalt to adhere properly. After this first layer (base in industry terms) a final layer is then applied on top; this makes resurfacing much easier (2"-3" thick).

 

[Zeiss]

What you are seeing is a compacted base before the base layer of asphalt (first layer) goes on. This might not be a roadway so they are just paving directly onto the compacted base (cost saving). If this was a roadway though, the contractor must spray a layer of tack coat in order for the asphalt to adhere properly. After this first layer (base in industry terms) a final layer is then applied on top; this makes resurfacing much easier (2"-3" thick).

This is not compacted base, this is concrete covered with loose concrete particles, some dirt spilled from the trees planting, dust, some dry leaves, even small pieces of garbage.

 

[W. K. Lis]

The leaves and garbage will be fossilized when the final pour is down.

 

[Megaton327]

Confirmed, final coat is on the MGT from Bay all the way to Simcoe. First coat just went on from Simcoe to Robertson Cres. East.

 

[DKsan]

As an avid watcher of the Waterfront Toronto webcameras, you can see the asphalt beautifulness right now.

 

[MetroMan]

I walked the full length just now and that webcam picture really tells the story. This project is nearing completion. Closer to Spadina, there's still a lot of work going on but most of it is done. It just all needs a good cleaning.

I'll repeat what I said a couple of pages back: the trees are a lot more mature than I expected. Most of them are beginning to bloom and you can tell that it's going to look a lot like the rendering with a majestic tree canopy in just a handful of years.

 

[MetroMan]

One aside: the public realm on Queens Quay now looks so beautiful and well done that the buildings lining it really stand out for the worse. I hope that the property owners see the potential in now turning their street levels into businesses facing Queens Quay, not just the water.

Perhaps market forces will easily take care of this. A condo corporation might see the financial advantage of terminating leases for dry cleaners and sandwhich/pizza shops and relocating residential amenities and consolidating their podiums into square footage that'll attract higher performing restaurants, cafes and bars.

Some buildings like those on the east side of York Quay could be demolished entirely and replaced with higher quality retail.

Another issue are the large number of parking garages. I'm not sure how this can be dealt with as you can't eliminate parking but digging underground into what was a former part of the lake is a very expensive capital expense that might not justify the increase in lease revenue.

It'll be interesting to see how property owners take advantage of the world class street that was just plopped down in front of them.

 

[ehlow]

I don't know much about trees: how long will it take for the trees in the photo above to be as large as in the renderings?

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I don't know much about trees: how long will it take for the trees in the photo above to be as large as in the renderings?

Not 100% sure, but if the QQE promenade would be a good guide. See WT blog post:

http://blog.waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe...me/posts/spring-queens-quay-new-tree-planting
http://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/the-wonderful-trees-of-torontos-sugar-beach

AoD

 

[Canadian Chocho]

Perhaps a stupid question but is there anything special about the large surface parking lot by Reese and Queens Quay? I haven't down by the waterfront in a while and was only remembered of this large lot just now on Streetview. I wonder why there is never talk or rumours of developing it, is there something already in store for it?

 

[Megaton327]

As an avid watcher of the Waterfront Toronto webcameras, you can see the asphalt beautifulness right now.

Thanks, I had totally forgotten about those cams! Used them all the time to track the TTC corridor rebuild since I wasn't riding through the area much, forgot about them once the 509 resumed. Still useful for sure!

I took some photos today myself. The MGT has been paved with the final coat from Bay all the way to Robertson (East) now--it was just the first coat from Simcoe to Robertson this morning, they went over it during the afternoon. Got up close, so you can clearly see it's the final coat:

Bay to York:

York to Harbourfront Centre Stop:

Harbourfront Centre Stop to Simcoe:

Simcoe to Robertson (East leg):

Robertson (East leg) to Rees (partial coat only as of approx 5:30 PM, and Rees intersection is incomplete):

 

[k10ery]

As an avid watcher of the Waterfront Toronto webcameras, you can see the asphalt beautifulness right now.

That's a screenshot from a webcam? Amazing image. Thanks to all for the great photos and updates. I am really excited to walk or ride QQ on opening day. And I am proud of Toronto for at last getting this street so right!

 

[CDL.TO]

It's quite the transformation! Can't wait to check it out for myself!

Thought the MGT was going to be wider than that. That really isn't all that wide for a bi-directional trail that's expected to be very busy in the summer.

Also, prediction: by the end of summer we're going to be hearing complaints about pedestrians standing in or wandering into the bike path without looking.