City staff have completed their preliminary evaluation on what to do with the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway and it appears that removing the aging highway altogether is the favoured course of action from most perspectives.
The analysis looked at several options for the 2.4 kilometre elevated portion of the highway east of Jarvis Street, including maintaining it, replacing it or removing it completely.
Though the analysis did not make any final recommendations, it did note that removing that particular section of the highway would be the preferred option for 11 out of the 16 measures considered and would be a positive development for pedestrians, cyclists and public transit.
On the other hand, the analysis also found removing the highway would be the least preferred option when traffic and the movement of goods are considered.
An estimated 4,500 vehicles use the eastern portion of the highway every hour and staff have suggested that removing it could add up to 15 minutes to the commute for those drivers.
“If you look at it strictly from the standpoint of any one criterion you will lead yourself to a pretty clear conclusion but it is the combination of all the different criteria that we have to bear in mind,” Coun. John Parker, who sits on the city’s public works and infrastructure committee, told CP24 following the presentation from city staff. “We really do have to find the right balance taking into account all of the different things that should be top of mind when it comes to a decision as huge as this.”
Mayor Ford wants to keep highway
The Gardiner has fallen under disrepair in recent years and costs the city an estimated $15 million annually just to maintain.
A number of instances of concrete falling from the underside of the highway have also been recorded and a report commissioned by the city in 2012 suggested that the highway presents a “significant hazard to public safety.”
Discussing the matter at city hall Wednesday, Mayor Rob Ford admitted that the highway needs work but said that it can be spruced up.
“Is there some crumbling? Absolutely there is. It is an old bridge that needs some work, but we can clean it up and beautify it,” Ford said. “The Gardiner is very useful and if we tear it down it will be traffic chaos for five or six years. I do not want to see that. ”
If the eastern portion of the Gardiner is removed, city staff have recommended expanding Lake Shore Boulevard to eight lanes to help accommodate the displaced traffic.
The estimated cost of knocking down the highway and widening Lake Shore is believed to be about $240 million.
The estimated cost of keeping the highway safe and viable is believed to be about the same, however that cost could rise to $650 million if council elects to also make a number of major improvements first.
“The price between keeping it and removing it is very, very minimal, so let's maintain it, ” Ford said Wednesday, vowing to make the highway an election issue.
City staff have asked council to come to some sort of decision on which option they would like to pursue by April.
At that point, staff will prepare a full report on the matter and bring it back to council shortly after October’s municipal election.
