Mayor Olivia Chow of Toronto spoke to the press about the disruptions caused by major rehabilitation work on the Gardiner Expressway. The city is working to mitigate the disruptions, which include reducing parts of the expressway by one lane in each direction for critical rehabilitation work. These closures will be in place for the next three years, affecting not only residents but also the city’s economy. Despite calls to reopen the Gardiner during events like Taylor Swift’s concerts, the lanes will remain closed because they are being demolished and rebuilt.
To help ease traffic delays, the city is implementing a pilot project to extend the opening hours of the Jameson Avenue on-ramp to the Gardiner. This project will allow the on-ramp to be open between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. City staff are also working on ways to alleviate gridlock at British Columbia Road and Lake Shore Boulevard. Additionally, noise tests are being conducted on demolition work, and there are ongoing discussions about potentially having 24-7 work on the Gardiner.
There is a motion from Council Member Brad Bradford on the Gardiner, seeking a report from staff on ways to speed up the work. Mayor Chow deemed this motion redundant, as staff are already working on a report that will be presented to the infrastructure committee this summer. The city is preparing for the economic impact of Taylor Swift’s upcoming concerts in November, which are expected to generate at least $120 million in ticket sales alone. The influx of tourists will also spend on food, drink, accommodations, and attractions like the “Taylgate” fan experience, potentially bringing an additional $500 to $600 million to the local economy.
Mayor Chow expressed a desire for Toronto to receive a share of the revenue from sales taxes generated by Taylor Swift’s concerts. She noted that while the federal and provincial governments benefit from the sales tax revenue, the city does not receive any of it. She hopes that the senior levels of government will understand Toronto’s needs and provide support for the city. The city is doing its best to manage the disruptions caused by the Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation work, with efforts like the pilot project for the Jameson Avenue on-ramp and ongoing discussions on speeding up the work to minimize the impacts on residents and the economy.
