One of the country's largest infrastructure projects continues to make progress in Toronto’s Port Lands, flood protecting 240 hectares of land to allow for the development of a new community for over 25,000 residents with parks, businesses and transit. The remediation project, which received a $1.25 billion investment from all three levels of government in 2017, is estimated to generate $4 billion in economic output.

Throughout the Fall of 2019, a number of corresponding projects will be completed with the goal of creating the new, flood-protected Villiers Island by 2023. Transportation, parkland and energy infrastructure projects are under construction, bringing the project’s vision closer to reality.

Aerial overview representing the future of Villiers Island, draft image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto.

Following the repair of the existing Cherry Street bridge which was out of service for the majority of August 2019, work has begun on the installation of its permanent replacement. Support caissons are being installed along the north side of the Keating Channel, to support the bridge’s foundation. A total of 28 caissons will be installed for this portion of the project, the first of three bridges to be constructed. 

Rendering of the proposed Cherry Street North Bridge, draft image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto.

Across the bridge from the mainland to the island, work will soon begin to reformat Villiers Street, one of the main east-west corridors in the Port Lands. The street will be reconfigured to a four-lane boulevard, with new traffic signal lights, repairs and additions to the existing sidewalks. Utility lines will be moved underground to improve the future public realm. Work here is expected to begin mid-September and wrap up by November. 

Looking east on Villiers Street from Cherry Street, image via Google Street View

The lake filling portion of the project, creating a new shoreline along the Keating Channel and the new Don River mouth under construction to the south, is nearing final completion, with the installation of wildlife habitat materials beginning atop the 240,000 metric tonnes of locally sourced earth placed to create the island’s extension.

Looking east to the landfilling work at the Port Lands, image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto

Adjacent to the newly filled portion of the lake, work has progressed on the installation of the river’s edge wall, which will control the flow of water in the Keating Channel for the upcoming winter construction period, during which deep excavation of the new river valley will commence. 

Caisson drilling for the river's edge wall, image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment below.

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