Gardiner Expressway reopens from Spadina Avenue to Highway 427

The Gardiner Expressway has reopened following a weekend closure, according to the city.

In a news release issued on Friday, the City of Toronto said the closure would start following the end of Game 2 of the World Series.

The City of Toronto said a complete closure of the Gardiner Expressway from Spadina Avenue to Highway 427 was necessary in order to conduct maintenance and final prep work to move on with the safe reopening of all six lanes.

Three westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes reopened to drivers ahead of schedule on Monday morning.

The closure was part of the city’s plan to fully reopen the Gardiner from Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue, 18 months ahead of the original construction schedule, and marks the completion of the section of massive repairs planned for the major highway.

Back in December of 2016, city council enacted the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan, which splits up all necessary repair work into six sections.

The first, sprawling from Jarvis to Cherry streets, finished in 2021. The city says construction plans for the remaining sections are underway.

“As part of the broader Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan, the city is also advancing repairs on five bridges between Highway 427 and the Humber River. This includes structures over Park Lawn Road, Mimico Creek, Kipling Avenue and Islington Avenue,” the city said in a news release on Friday.

“Work is being delivered using similar acceleration strategies and is expected to be substantially complete by late 2026.”

• READ MORE: Gardiner Expressway construction to wrap up by end of month, but could be delayed if Jays make World Series

The goal is for construction to be completed in time for when Toronto hosts the FIFA World Cup next June.