View of the Gardiner Expressway, west of downtown Toronto, from the pedestrian overpass at the foot of Roncesvalles Avenue. The road in the bottom right-hand corner is Lake Shore Boulevard (2004).

A trailblazer for the Gardiner Expressway on Yonge Street.

The Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, known locally as "The Gardiner", is an expressway connecting downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada with its western suburbs. Running in close proximity to the shore of Lake Ontario, it now extends from the junction of Highway 427 and the Queen Elizabeth Way in the west to the foot of the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) in the east, just past the mouth of the Don River. East of Dufferin Street, the roadway is elevated, running above Lake Shore Boulevard east of Bathurst Street. For some years, the Gardiner has been the subject of controversy, with repeated calls from some citizens and politicians to demolish it or move it underground. Etobicoke (pronounced  ) is the western portion of the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a population of approximately 345,000[1]. The official 2001 census count was 338,117. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... Etobicoke (pronounced  ) is the western portion of the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a population of approximately 345,000[1]. The official 2001 census count was 338,117. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... I, Moncrief, took this photo of the Gardiner Expressway, Toronto, in 2004 This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... I, Moncrief, took this photo of the Gardiner Expressway, Toronto, in 2004 This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Image File history File links Gard-trailblazer. ... Image File history File links Gard-trailblazer. ... A sign for Yonge Street at the intersection with Maitland Street. ... A freeway is a type of highway that is designed for safer high-speed operation of motor vehicles through the elimination of at-grade intersections. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages None Flower White Trillium Tree Eastern White Pine Bird Common Loon Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 106 24 Area Total... Lake Ontario (French: lac Ontario), bounded on the north by Ontario and on the south by Ontarios Niagara Peninsula and by New York State, is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. ... Highway 427 as part of the 400-series network Highway 427 is a 400-Series Highway in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada, that runs from immediately south of the Queen Elizabeth Way/Gardiner Expressway interchange (its exact southern terminus is on the Browns Line at Coules Court... The Queen Elizabeth Way (commonly referred to as the QEW, Q, QE, or Queen-E) is a vital 400-Series freeway in Ontario, Canada. ... Don Valley Parkway, looking northbound, in typical rush-hour traffic The Don Valley Parkway (often referred to as the DVP or simply as The Parkway) is a controlled-access six-lane freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so named because it runs through the scenic Don River Valley. ... The Don River is one of two rivers bounding the original settled area of Toronto, Canada along the shore of Lake Ontario, the other being the Humber River to the west. ...

The Gardiner Expressway, along with the Don Valley Parkway and the Allen Road (the short completed section of the truncated Spadina Expressway), form the municipal expressway system in Toronto. These are the expressways which are owned and operated by the City of Toronto. The remainder of the highways operating within the city's boundaries—Highways 401, 427, 400, 409, 404, and the Queen Elizabeth Way—are 400-Series Highways, which are owned and operated by the Province of Ontario. William R. Allen Road, known more commonly as Allen Road or simply The Allen is a short expressway/freeway in Toronto, Ontario, which runs from Kennard Avenue(Wilson Heights Blvd. ... The Spadina Expressway, now known as Allen Road, was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways in Metropolitan Toronto. ... The Kings Highway No. ... Highway 427 as part of the 400-series network Highway 427 is a 400-Series Highway in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada, that runs from immediately south of the Queen Elizabeth Way/Gardiner Expressway interchange (its exact southern terminus is on the Browns Line at Coules Court... Highway 400 as part of the 400-series network The Kings Highway 400, more commonly known as Highway 400 or the 400, is a key north-south 400-Series Highway linking Toronto to Central and Northern Ontario. ... Highway 409 as part of the 400-series network Looking west on the 409 just east of the Highway 427 junction Highway 409 is an Ontario provincial 400-Series expressway that runs from the 401 in Toronto to Toronto Pearson International Airport, west of Highway 427, in Mississauga. ... Highway 404 as part of the 400-series network The Kings Highway 404 or simply Highway 404 is an Ontario 400-Series Highway that runs from the junction of Highway 401 and the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto to its northern terminus at Green Lane/Herald Road in Newmarket. ... The Queen Elizabeth Way (commonly referred to as the QEW, Q, QE, or Queen-E) is a vital 400-Series freeway in Ontario, Canada. ... The 400-series Highway network in Southern Ontario. ...

It is named for the first chair of the now-defunct Metro Council, Frederick G. Gardiner, who championed the project and was responsible for the building of the Don Valley Parkway. Metro Council redirects here. ... Frederick G. Gardiner was the first chairman of Metropolitan Toronto council, the governing body for the Municipality of Metro Toronto, from 1953 to 1967. ...

History

The Gardiner Expressway was one of the first projects undertaken by the newly formed government of Metro Toronto. Plans for the highway, first named the Lakeshore Expressway were first developed in 1943, prior to the formation of Metro Toronto. Metro Council redirects here. ...

Construction on the expressway began in 1955. The Gardiner was built in segments, with the final section being completed in 1966. The price tag was approximately $110 million Canadian or approximately $700 million in 2006 dollars.

Segments

• Humber River to Jameson Avenue was completed in 1958.
• Jameson Avenue to York Street was completed in 1962.
• York Street to Don Valley Parkway was completed in 1964.
• Don Valley Parkway to Leslie Street was completed in 1966 (now demolished).

The original route of the Expressway called for the demolition of historic Fort York. Community groups fought hard and eventually won to save the fort over the wishes of Mr. Gardiner. The freeway was re-routed to the south of the grounds and this happens to also be the highest point of the elevated section. The Humber, as seen from a point near the northern border of Toronto. ... Don Valley Parkway, looking northbound, in typical rush-hour traffic The Don Valley Parkway (often referred to as the DVP or simply as The Parkway) is a controlled-access six-lane freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so named because it runs through the scenic Don River Valley. ... Don Valley Parkway, looking northbound, in typical rush-hour traffic The Don Valley Parkway (often referred to as the DVP or simply as The Parkway) is a controlled-access six-lane freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so named because it runs through the scenic Don River Valley. ... Leslie Street is a north-south route in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... A blockhouse at Fort York in 2004 Fort York is an historic site of military fortifications and related buildings on the west side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

The route of the Expressway around Humber Bay necessitated the demolition of the Sunnyside Amusement Park on the lakeshore, which had existed since 1925. Some amusements were moved to the CNE, others sold off or just destroyed. The carousel for example was moved to the newly built Disneyland. In conjunction with that, Lakeshore Boulevard was also expanded to a six-lane road and The Queensway was built. Only the Sunnyside Pool and Palais Royale hall now exist from that time period. Sunnyside was the site of one two smaller amusement parks in Toronto, Ontario (the other being Scarborough Beach Amusement Park). ... Early CNE midway sign A pair of CNE Magic Passes Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is an annual event held at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Disneyland (since 1998 officially Disneyland Park, to distinguish it from the Disneyland Resort complex of which it is a part), is a theme park in Anaheim, California, USA (28 miles from Downtown Los Angeles). ... Lake Shore Boulevard is an east-west route running along most of Torontos waterfront. ... The Queensway is the western extension of Queen Street (Toronto), after it merges with King Street near Roncesvalles Avenue in Toronto, Canada. ...

The elevated section is constructed higher than required to cross city streets since it was found that such a design would take the traffic noise away from ground level.

Scarborough Expressway extension

The stretch east of the Don Valley Parkway was part of a planned extension through the eastern suburb of Scarborough, that would eventually connect with Highway 401 via Highway 2A. This extension, which was to be known as the Scarborough Expressway, was never completed due to public opposition to freeway construction. The only portion of the proposed Scarborough Expressway constructed was a short spur of the Gardiner Expressway east of the Don Valley Parkway ending at Leslie Street. This was demolished in 2001 due to the high maintenance costs associated with the elevated roadway. The only remnant kept were some of the pillars just west of Leslie that were turned into a public art project. Eastbound traffic now exits to a newly constructed offramp that connects with Lakeshore Blvd. East. Motto: Location City Information Established: 1 January 1850 (township), 1 January 1967 (borough), June 1983 (city), 1 January 1998 (amalgamated) Area: 187. ... The Kings Highway No. ... Highway 2A is a short controlled-access freeway in Toronto, Ontario that extends from its junction with Highway 2 at the Highland Creek to its junction with Highway 401 (exit 390). ... Scarborough Expressway was one of many planned, but uncompleted highways in Toronto. ... Leslie Street is a north-south route in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

Municipal downloading

Subsequent to the 1998 amalgamation of the Metro municipalities into a single Toronto government, the stretch of the Queen Elizabeth Way between Highway 427 and the Humber River was downloaded from the provincial Ministry of Transportation to the new City of Toronto and was redesignated as part of the Gardiner. The Queen Elizabeth Way (commonly referred to as the QEW, Q, QE, or Queen-E) is a vital 400-Series freeway in Ontario, Canada. ... Highway 427 as part of the 400-series network Highway 427 is a 400-Series Highway in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada, that runs from immediately south of the Queen Elizabeth Way/Gardiner Expressway interchange (its exact southern terminus is on the Browns Line at Coules Court...

Due to its status as a former Ontario 400-series highway, and because of its more recent design (rebuilt in the late 1960s), this section was built to higher standards than the Metro-constructed Gardiner. A system of collector and express lanes serve Kipling Avenue and Islington Avenue and this segment has a speed limit of 100 km/h rather than 90 km/h. The 400-series Highway network in Southern Ontario. ... It has been suggested that express lanes be merged into this article or section. ... Kipling Avenue is a Toronto street, named for Rudyard Kipling, who may or may not have been travelling through on the road to Woodbridge, Ontario. ... Islington Avenue is a north-south route in Toronto. ...

Since the end of 2003, the conventional truss lighting poles that the province installed in the late 1960s have been replaced west of Kipling Avenue and east of Royal York Road, in favour of shaded high-mast lighting like that of the Don Valley Parkway.

Present

The old Gardiner and Lakeshore bridges over the Humber River, which had been in service since 1954, were removed and replaced by new structures in 1999. The old bridge pillars had sunken slightly, giving the eastbound Gardiner a roller-coasted ride or "Humber hump".

The elevated section in downtown Toronto was closed down for extensive repairs in the late 1990s; parallel roads such as Lake Shore Boulevard and Front Street were extensively congested until the Gardiner reopened.

In the wake of the eastern demolition, Lake Shore Boulevard East has been revealed from the cover of the highway. Green boulevards have been implemented along the wide thoroughfare. Paved bicycle paths extend eastward for approximately two kilometres from the Martin Goodman Trail at Cherry Street to Coxwell Avenue. A local artist has created a commemorative piece for the demolished elevated expressway out of several of its giant supportive concrete pillars. However, critics pointed out that the demolition cost was underestimated and it ended up costing as much as the alternative repair solution. As a result, there was a lack of funds to beautify Lake Shore East. There has been no adverse impact on traffic because of the demolition.

Even though the suburban population and the number of jobs in the city core have grown significantly, the capacity of the Gardiner has not increased since it opened in the 1960s and no alternate routes to the Gardiner have been constructed. Historical traffic and transit data indicate that TTC ridership entering downtown have remained relatively stable or declined since the 1980s while car ownership has continued to climb. GO Transit ridership has grown but it failed to relieve the congestion problem, particularly for suburban residents commuting to jobs downtown. As a result, the Gardiner is one of the busiest freeways in the Toronto area, along with the Don Valley Parkway. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is a public transport authority that operates buses, streetcars, subways, and rapid transit lines in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Don Valley Parkway, looking northbound, in typical rush-hour traffic The Don Valley Parkway (often referred to as the DVP or simply as The Parkway) is a controlled-access six-lane freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so named because it runs through the scenic Don River Valley. ...

As one of the few express routes for motor traffic into the downtown core, the Gardiner is regarded by many as essential to the city's economy, in wake of stiff competition from lower business-tax neighbours like Peel Region and York Region which have more extensive provincial freeway networks. Nonetheless, the elevated section's presence remains one of the more contentious urban planning issues in Toronto. Critics of the expressway have long decried its appearance, referring to it as "The Mistake by the Lake", and have argued that it cuts off the city from its waterfront. Motto: Working for you Area: 1,241. ... Motto: Ontarios Rising Star Area: 1,761. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with List of Ontario expressways. ... Urban planning is concerned with the ordering and design of settlements, from the smallest towns to the worlds largest cities. ... Harbourfront is a waterfront tourist, residential and cultural real estate development on the northern shore of Lake Ontario within the downtown core of the city of Toronto, Canada. ...

In recent decades, several proposals have been made to dismantle it or replace its central section with a tunnel. One recent tunnel proposal was part of a wide-ranging report presented by the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Task Force in 1999. Lack of municipal funds and political will have repeatedly stalled such plans. The demolition of the elevated Gardiner was estimated at $750 million, while the proposed viaduct over the railway tracks would have costed $1.65 billion. The 1999 tunnel would have not only cost $2-3 billion but also require a toll for several years to help recoup the costs and it has drawn unfavourable comparisons to Boston's Big Dig. All three projects require the completion of the $245 million Front Street extension as a prerequisite. Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... Metropolitan Highway System Big Dig is the unofficial name of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (CA/T), a megaproject to reroute the Central Artery (Interstate 93), the chief controlled-access highway through the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, into a 3. ... Front Street is an east-west street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

An overview of the planned changes to the Gardiner as proposed by the Task Force:

• retain elevated portions from west of Dufferin Street to Spadina Avenue
• add new on/off ramps to connect with Front Street extension
• replace elevated portion from Spadina Avenue to Simcoe Street with 2 five lane roadway (Lakeshore Blvd) separated by landscaped median
• replace elevated portion from Simcoe Street to Jarvis Street with 2 five lane roadway (Lakeshore Blvd) separated by city block
• replace elevated portion from Jarvis Street to Don River with 2 four lane roadway (Lakeshore Blvd) separated by landscaped median
• relocated Don River channel and re-build new ramps onto the Don Valley Parkway with surface roadway (Lakeshore Blvd)

The elevated section was instead extensively rehabilitated. Supporters of the elevated Gardiner point out that its design (in particular being constructed higher than required to cross city streets) keeps traffic noise away from ground level. They also note that even if it were removed, the waterfront view would still be obstructed by railroad tracks whose central portion is raised upon a high embankment. In addition, there is growing concern about the new condos, many of which have sprung up in formerly empty land since 2000 and obscure the waterfront. Don Valley Parkway, looking northbound, in typical rush-hour traffic The Don Valley Parkway (often referred to as the DVP or simply as The Parkway) is a controlled-access six-lane freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so named because it runs through the scenic Don River Valley. ...

On September 27, 2006 the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation issued a new plan to demolish a portion of the Gardiner. It involved removing the Gardiner east of Spadina, and expanding Lakeshore Boulevard. The expansion of Lakeshore Bouleveard would add lanes going east and west. Lakeshore would be 10 lanes wide and would have a large landscaped median similar to University Avenue in Toronto. However, mayor David Miller stated promptly that there was no money for the plan. David Raymond Miller (born December 26, 1958) is a Canadian politician. ...

An overhead view of the Gardiner Expressway (right) from the CN Tower (note the proposed viaduct would go over the rail tracks at the left)

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 340 KB)Taken by user Bourquie on 11 Aug 2005 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 340 KB)Taken by user Bourquie on 11 Aug 2005 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The CN Tower, at 553. ... Torontos Bloor Street Viaduct bridges the Don valley; road traffic uses the upper deck, rail traffic uses the lower deck. ...

Exit list

Exits were numbered from west to east on the former Queen Elizabeth Way section.
The Queen Elizabeth Way (commonly referred to as the QEW, Q, QE, or Queen-E) is a vital 400-Series freeway in Ontario, Canada. ...

Exit numbers on Interstate 4 in Volusia County, Florida. ... Lake Shore Boulevard is an east-west route running along most of Torontos waterfront. ... Highway 2 was the major east-west provincial highway in Southern Ontario, running from Windsor in the west to the Lancaster in the east and joining together the towns and cities of the western two thirds of the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. ... Lake Shore Boulevard is an east-west route running along most of Torontos waterfront. ... The Rogers Centre (until recently called SkyDome), which opened on June 1, 1989, is a huge ballpark in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower near the shores of Lake Ontario. ... View of Spadina Avenue, looking north from its intersecton with Dundas Street. ... Lake Shore Boulevard is an east-west route running along most of Torontos waterfront. ... Torontos Bay Street in the heart of the financial district. ... A sign for Yonge Street at the intersection with Maitland Street. ... The Toronto Islands provide a shallow natural harbour for the city of Toronto. ... Harbourfront is a waterfront tourist, residential and cultural real estate development on the northern shore of Lake Ontario within the downtown core of the city of Toronto, Canada. ... Typical HWY 11 sign style Ontario provincial highway 11 is one of the longest of Ontarios Kings Highways, with a current length (as of 2004) of 1 636 km (1,016 miles). ... The Rogers Centre (until recently called SkyDome), which opened on June 1, 1989, is a huge ballpark in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower near the shores of Lake Ontario. ... Don Valley Parkway, looking northbound, in typical rush-hour traffic The Don Valley Parkway (often referred to as the DVP or simply as The Parkway) is a controlled-access six-lane freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so named because it runs through the scenic Don River Valley. ... Lake Shore Boulevard is an east-west route running along most of Torontos waterfront. ... Highway 2 was the major east-west provincial highway in Southern Ontario, running from Windsor in the west to the Lancaster in the east and joining together the towns and cities of the western two thirds of the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. ...

Call Boxes

Call boxes (for emergency assistance for stranded motorists) fixed to poles on the shoulders were removed along the Gardiner, as was the case on the Don Valley Parkway. Don Valley Parkway, looking northbound, in typical rush-hour traffic The Don Valley Parkway (often referred to as the DVP or simply as The Parkway) is a controlled-access six-lane freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so named because it runs through the scenic Don River Valley. ...

References

• Fulford, Robert. "Fred Gardiner's Specialized City", in Accidental City: The transformation of Toronto (1995). Toronto: Macfarlane Walter & Ross.

See also

• Municipal expressways in Toronto
• Allen Road
• Don Valley Parkway

Toronto, Ontario is one of the few North American cities that maintains a system of expressways and arterial highways at the municipal level. ... William R. Allen Road, known more commonly as Allen Road or simply The Allen is a short expressway/freeway in Toronto, Ontario, which runs from Kennard Avenue(Wilson Heights Blvd. ... Don Valley Parkway, looking northbound, in typical rush-hour traffic The Don Valley Parkway (often referred to as the DVP or simply as The Parkway) is a controlled-access six-lane freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so named because it runs through the scenic Don River Valley. ...

External links

• Viaduct proposal
• Photos of the Gardiner East demolition from the City of Toronto Archives
• Missing Links, A Complete History Of Toronto's Controversial Expressway System
• City of Toronto RESCU Traffic Cameras (also includes traffic cameras for the Don Valley Parkway and Lake Shore Boulevard)
• Realtime Toronto Highway Traffic - Gardiner
• About Fred Gardiner
• Technical Briefing report of the future of the Gardiner Expressway by TWRC, Simplified Version