The Gardiner Expressway will be shut down over the Thanksgiving long weekend for maintenance and improvements.

The city says the highway will be closed in both directions between Highway 427/ Queen Elizabeth Way and the Don Valley Parkway starting 12:01 a.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Monday.

“Crews will perform important maintenance and improvement work to help keep the highway in the best state of good repair, in advance of the coming winter season,” the city said in a news release.

The construction is part of the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan.

The maintenance work this weekend includes line marking, overhead and ground sign inspections, pothole repair and crack sealing, graffiti removal, and street light repairs.

Throughout construction, two lanes will remain open in each direction and only one ramp will be closed at a time. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2021.