Starting today, Tuesday, September 4, TTC contractors are conducting tests on the east side of Leslie Street, just north of Commissioners Street as part of the project to build the new Ashbridges Bay Carhouse — a storage and maintenance facility for the TTC’s new streetcars. The tests will locate any underground utilities in the area and also help with design work for the project.

Testing likely continues for about a month, with the majority of the work taking place between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.

During the testing, the contractors will block about 50 metres (150 feet) of the sidewalk on the east side of Leslie Street between Commissioners Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East.

They’ll clearly sign and fence off the work area on the boulevard. They’ll also use construction cones and signs to safely redirect pedestrians onto the Martin Goodman Trail.

Although this phase of the project does not have impact on that part of the Martin Goodman Trail which stretches along Leslie Street, however a second part of the project that also starts today does require contractors to block part of the trail along Lake Shore Boulevard East and may also temporarily affect the trail along Leslie, too.

Crews under contract to Hydro One are working to provide hydroelectric power services to the new facility. The majority of their work occurs Mondays to Fridays from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

During their work, cyclists, pedestrians and other commuters should expect:

• Pedestrian and bicycle traffic along the Martin Goodman Trail will be temporarily rerouted from the south side of Lake Shore Boulevard East between Leslie Street and Coxwell Avenue to the trail on the north side of Lake Shore Boulevard East.
• From time to time, their work will also block sections of the trail along Leslie Street from south of Commissioners Street to Lake Shore Blvd will also be interrupted. A flag person, pylons and signage will safely direct trail users along this stretch.
• One northbound* traffic lane on Leslie between Commissioners Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East will also be intermittently blocked.

These interruptions may continue until April 2013.