Aecon wins $248M contract to rehabilitate aging stretch of Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway

TORONTO—Aecon Group Inc. has won a major contract with the City of Toronto to carry out rehabilitation work on the Gardiner Expressway that runs along the city’s waterfront.

The $248 million deal includes replacing the full superstructure of the elevated highway along a 1.1-kilometre section between Cherry and Jarvis streets east of downtown. Aecon said the project also entails the rehabilitation of three highway ramps and the installation of new lighting along the route.

Whether to repair or demolish the aging highway, commonly known simply as the Gardiner, has been a controversial topic at Toronto City Hall for years. Built between 1955 and 1966, it’s typically seen as an eyesore and an impediment to repurposing the city’s waterfront, but is a vital link for motorists.

“This project is a strong fit for Aecon’s industry leading capabilities in road and heavy civil construction,” said John Beck, the contractor’s president and CEO. “The F.G. Gardiner Expressway is a critical roadway that moves over 200,000 people daily and we’re proud to lead this important component of the Strategic Rehabilitation Plan.”

The 1.1-km rehab project is part of a wider multibillion-dollar effort to overhaul the highway.

Aecon said the project will get underway in the third quarter of this year. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.