Toronto kicks off ‘busiest’ construction season yet with $1 billion in planned projects

TORONTO—Mayor John Tory ushered in Toronto’s ‘busiest-ever’ construction season May 13, unveiling $1 billion in funding for infrastructure projects.

The city will funnel $590 million towards rehabilitating transportation infrastructure, such as roadways, bridges and sidewalks.

Of that, $200 million has been allotted for expressway projects, including phase one of the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan. The contract for that work was awarded to Aecon Construction and Materials Limited in June 2018.

Around $480 million will go towards water infrastructure, such as watermains and storm water management projects, such as the first phase of the Don River and Central Waterfront project.

In total, the work amounts to around 140 kilometres of road paving and 200 kilometres of sewer and watermain improvements. Construction work will be taking place on more than 600 roads across Toronto this season.

The city plans to extend work hours for 63 “key projects” in order to speed up timelines. It also plans to bundle projects, implement signal-timing changes on parallel routes and enhance signage at work locations.

“With work happening across all of Toronto, including on major roads and expressways, this year’s construction season is going to be very busy,” said Councillor James Pasternak, chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee. “However, this work will bring vital infrastructure that we all rely on to a state of good repair.”