A portion of the Gardiner Expressway that was temporarily closed for construction post-Game 2 of the World Series has reopened earlier than anticipated, bringing relief to commuters.
The closed section spanned between Highway 427 and Spadina Avenue but was operational again in the early hours of the morning, ahead of the scheduled 7 a.m. reopening on Monday. This swift progress was made possible by a significant $73 million investment from the provincial government.
While another closure is planned for the same area between Highway 427 and Spadina Avenue on Saturday, November 1, the timing hinges on the Toronto Blue Jays’ playoff schedule. If a Game 7 of the World Series materializes, the expressway will shut down from Spadina Avenue to Highway 427, with all lanes expected to resume normal traffic flow by 7 a.m. on Monday, November 3.
Recent reports from CityNews indicate a potential delay in reopening the Gardiner Expressway stretch between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue, with a new target date of Monday, November 10. The province’s transportation minister attributes this setback to the ongoing World Series games involving the Blue Jays.
Back in October, the City of Toronto had announced that the construction project was significantly ahead of its initial completion schedule.
A study conducted in June 2024 revealed a substantial increase in travel times on the Gardiner Expressway during peak hours, with morning rush hour delays surging by up to 250% and afternoon rush hour congestion spiking by 230%.