Gardiner Expressway construction six months ahead of schedule, city says

Westbound traffic is seen on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Construction on the Gardiner Expressway is six months ahead of its projected spring 2026 completion, the city said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the city provided an update on the Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue, saying that it is “progressing very well.”

“The progress can also be attributed to consistently good weather, real-time problem solving and the fact that no unexpected conditions were uncovered during construction that required major design changes,” a city spokesperson said.

“Work is currently tracking six months ahead of the accelerated timeline and a completion date will be shared closer to the expected reopening.”

The project’s original completion date was in 2027, with work scheduled to be paused during the FIFA World Cup. The Ontario government then invested $73 million to accelerate the construction, which began in early 2024, by allowing 24/7 work, adding more equipment and faster delivery of materials.

“The city anticipates this project will be fully completed before FIFA, with all lanes being reopened ahead of FIFA,” the spokesperson said. Toronto is slated to host six matches in June 2026.

Work on the highway includes replacing 700 metres of concrete deck and girders, repairing the associated substructure and installing new street lighting.

The construction has resulted in the highway being reduced to two lanes in each direction, causing travel times to double.