From Sunday, March 29 until Saturday, May 9, the City of Toronto and the TTC will carry out major construction work at the intersection of Spadina Avenue and College Street.

The City and TTC intend the project to bring the streetcar-track infrastructure and nearby roads and sidewalks to a state of good repair.

During the project, crews will:

• break concrete and excavate to remove the tracks during the week of March 30;
• install new streetcar tracks for eight to nine days, including overnight;
• rebuild and lengthen the streetcar platforms on College Street to accommodate new low-floor streetcars;
• resurface the road; and
• improve accessibility by rebuilding the sidewalks at each corner of the intersection.

The City and TTC have scheduled three phases for the project.

Phase 1: from Sunday, March 29 until Sunday, April 5:

• crews will perform advance work by saw-cutting concrete in the intersection.
• the City will maintain traffic through the intersection with temporary lane restrictions.
• The TTC is replacing streetcars operating along the 510 Spadina route with buses. The buses operate through the intersection but only along part of the route between Spadina Station and Queens Quay West. Buses drop off or pick up passengers in the bus terminal in Spadina Station, instead of the streetcar terminal and serve stops beside the curb, instead of the centre-road “island” streetcar stops. Passengers traveling to and from Union Station can board streetcars operating along the 509 Harbourfront route to Queens Quay West and Lower Spadina Avenue.

Phase 2: From Monday, April 6 until Sunday, April 26:

• The City is fully closing the intersection to traffic in all directions.
• The TTC detour streetcars operating along the 506 Carlton route away from the intersection.
• The TTC continues to operate buses along the 510 Spadina route, but diverts the buses around the intersection. (A future Transit Toronto post will detail information on TTC detours during this phase of the project.)

Phase 3: From Monday, April 27 until Saturday, May 9:

• The City is again only partially closing the intersection, maintaining one lane in each direction.
• TTC streetcars operating along the 506 Carlton route resume regular service through the intersection.
• The TTC continues to operate buses along the 510 Spadina route, but the buses resume regular service through the intersection. (A future Transit Toronto post will detail information on TTC detours during this phase of the project.)

From Sunday, March 29 until Saturday, May 9, the TTC will operate its new Bombardier Flexity streetcars along the 509 Harbourfront route, while buses replace the cars along the 510 Spadina route. During this period, the TTC will allow passengers to pay fares using their PRESTO fare cards when boarding at stops along the 509 Harbourfront route.

Starting Sunday, March 29, 509 Harbourfront will also become a “POP” or “proof of payment” route. You can board streetcars by any door at any stop along the route. However you should retain your transfer to prove that you have paid a fare. Show your transfer or pass to a TTC fare inspector if he or she asks to see your proof of payment. POP service along the 509 Harbourfront route continues even after streetcars return to Spadina Avenue.

Also Sunday, March 29 until Saturday, May 9, all other streetcars that usually serve the 510 Spadina route will operate, instead, along the 504 King route. During this time, only streetcars will operating along the route, while the buses that have supplemented streetcars in recent months will serve 510 Spadina passengers.

As with all construction projects, expect noise, dust and other temporary inconveniences.

The City will impose parking, traffic and some pedestrian restrictions in and around the work area. During phase 2, it will close to all traffic:

• College Street between Robert and Huron Streets;
• Spadina Avenue between Spadina Crescent and Oxford Street; and

Crews will usually work from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, and from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. weekends. To meet project timelines, they may work some late evenings and overnight while they are installing new overhead wiring, moving rails into position and installing, welding and grinding the new rails.