The City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto have completed the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard East Reconfiguration Environmental Assessment (EA) and Urban Design Study with submission to the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) last week. The EA is available for public review and comment here until March 17, 2017.
Dillon was retained by Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto to lead the study and a team of international sub-consultants. Several alternatives were considered in the EA including the full replacement of the existing elevated expressway and its partial removal. The Hybrid 3 Alternative Design was approved by City of Toronto Council in 2016. The design involves the removal of the Logan Ramps east of the Don River and the construction of a new Gardiner-Don Valley Parkway (DVP) link in a more northern location east of Cherry Street, opening up significant waterfront lands for new development. The project includes public realm improvements along the Gardiner-Lake Shore Boulevard East corridor and a new multi-use pathway. A major focus of the study was to improve connections from the city to the waterfront as well as accommodating all modes of transportation.
Image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto.