The City of Toronto is replacing streetcar track along Queen Street West from Bay Street to Fennings Street and upgrading a portion of 100-year-old watermain between Bay Street and University Avenue.
Construction work starts the week of July 12 and is expected to be complete by December 2021. To minimize the impact on residents and local businesses, construction work will be carried out in eight phases of rolling 300-metre work zones. Each phase will last up to four weeks during which crews will be working around the clock to quicken construction.
From July to August, construction work will start at Bay Street and move west towards Spadina Avenue. From August to December, construction work will start at Fennings Street and move east towards Spadina Avenue.
Due to the limited right-of-way on Queen Street West, there will be no vehicle access within any of the 300-metre work zones and the 501/301 Queen will be diverted. Sidewalk cafes will not be permitted when construction is taking place in front of an establishment. Sidewalks will remain open.
The City is partnering with Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) to encourage local shopping during construction and will be improving the local streetscape in partnership with the Queen Street West BIA.
City-led construction is considered an essential service by the Province of Ontario and is necessary municipal work to ensure Toronto’s infrastructure remains safe, in a state of good repair and able to meet Toronto’s needs now and in the future.
The health and safety of all workers involved in construction, both contracted and City staff, is of paramount importance. Contractors must continue to abide by the terms and conditions of their contracts, most importantly the Occupational Health and Safety Act and adhere to guidelines issued by public health authorities and the Ministry of Labour to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safest possible environment for construction workers.
The City takes an active approach to coordinating construction to reduce prolonged disruption to local residents and the travelling public. Where possible, staff consider all potential construction needs in a particular area and liaise with outside agencies such as the TTC, Toronto Hydro and utility companies to coordinate their construction needs and plan how to complete the work together in stages or at the same time.
During construction, the public are advised to plan their travel in advance, consider alternate routes, be aware that street parking may be impacted, obey signage and be patient while travelling in and around the work zone.
Quote:
“This construction is an important investment in local infrastructure that will reduce disruptions in the long-run and ensure our critical infrastructure remains in a state of good repair now and in the future. I want to thank everyone for their patience and encourage residents to continue to shop local during the construction.”
– Mayor John Tory
SOURCE: City of Toronto
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