Report Assesses Expressway Removal Options for the Toronto Waterfront

David Rider reports on the recently released environmental assessment (EA) released by Waterfront Toronto, a public organization tasked with revitalizing Toronto waterfront, that recommends removing part of all of the Gardiner Expressway.

The EA considers options for full or partial (called a "hybrid" plan by the report) removal of the elevated span. Full removal would entail "[r]emoving the entire 2.4 kilometre expressway east of Jarvis St., and replacing the stretch to the Don Valley Parkway with an eight-lane, street-level boulevard," according to Rider. The hybrid plan would "[leave] the elevated Gardiner in place between Jarvis and the Don River, and replace the ramp between the Don and Logan Ave. with a six-lane boulevard."

Rider lists out the benefits of each plan, as stated in the EA, and also notes that the cost of simply maintaining the span as it is would require $864 million over the next 100 years. The article includes "swipe" frames of renderings used to compare each of the two options.