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City closes Gardiner Expressway
for seasonal maintenance this weekend



Updated — Friday, May 1, 5:59 a.m. with more details of GO bus detours.


The City of Toronto is closing

  • the Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway in both directions between Highway 427 and Carlaw Avenue

from 8 p.m. Friday, May 2 until 6 a.m. Sunday, May 3* for the City’s annual spring maintenance program.

While the Gardiner is closed, City workers will:

  • chip loose concrete from areas such as ramps and bridges that crews cannot do cannot when the expressway is open to traffic;
  • inspect bridges in-depth;
  • pave traffic lanes;
  • repair potholes;
  • inspect overhead signs;
  • install pavement markings;
  • clean catch-basins to make sure they drain properly;
  • maintain signs;
  • maintain the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system, including traffic cameras;
  • repair guard rails; and
  • sweep, flush and remove litter.

Closing the Gardiner affects buses operating along these GO Transit routes to and from the Union Station GO Bus Terminal:

At most times while the expressway is closed, GO is likely detouring the buses along The Queensway, and Lake Shore Boulevard, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.

From 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, May 2, GO starts and ends all buses operating along the 16 Hamilton / Toronto express route at Aldershot GO Station. Passengers must travel by train between Union Station and Aldershot. At the same time, it starts and ends all buses operating along the 21 / 21A / 21B / 21D / 21G / 21H / 21M / 21N / 21P Milton / Toronto and 31 / 31A / 31E / 31F / 31J / 31N / 31L Guelph / Georgetown / Toronto routes at Port Credit GO Station. Passengers must travel by train between Union Station and Port Credit.

Motorists that would usually drive along the Gardiner will seek alternate routes on nearby parallel streets, increasing traffic volumes along Lake Shore Boulevard, The Queensway, King and Queen Streets, among others.

The extra traffic may delay TTC service along these routes: 6 Bay, 15 Evans, 29 Dufferin, 47 Lansdowne, 63 Ossington, 65 Parliament, 66 Prince Edward, 75 Sherbourne, 76 Royal York South, 80 Queensway, 110 Islington South, 123 Shorncliffe, 172 Cherry St, 501 Queen, 504 King, 505 Dundas, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina and 511 Bathurst.

The City is opening the expressway earlier than usually at 6 a.m. Sunday to help improve traffic conditions during the Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon that day.


31 / 31A / 31E / 31F / 31J / 31N / 31L Guelph / Georgetown / Toronto;

31A, 31F and 31L branches

From 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday, May 2, all buses start and end their trips in Port Credit GO Station bus terminal. GO is only offering train service, not bus service, between Union Station and Port Credit.

Eastbound buses operate along their regular route to Highway 427 and the Queen Elizabeth Way / Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, then proceed:

westward along the Queen Elizabeth Way;
southward along Hurontario;
westward along Park Street East;
northward along Elizabeth Street; and then
westward along Queen Street East to Port Credit GO Station,
ending their trips.

Westbound buses start their trips in Port Credit GO Station bus terminal, then proceed:

westward along Queen East;
southward along Elizabeth Street;
eastward along Park East;
northward along Hurontario; and then
eastward along the Queen Elizabeth Way to Highway 427,
resuming their regular route northward along Highway 427.

All branches

From 8 p.m. Friday, May 1 until 6 a.m. Saturday, and from 10 p.m. Saturday, until 6 a.m. Sunday, May 3, GO is likely detouring the buses along The Queensway and Lake Shore Boulevard West, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.

16 Hamilton / Toronto express

From 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday, May 2, all buses start and end their trips in Aldershot GO Station bus terminal. GO is only offering train service, not bus service, between Union Station and Aldershot.

From 8 p.m. Friday, May 1 until 6 a.m. Saturday and from 10 p.m. Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday, May 3, GO is likely detouring the buses along The Queensway and Lake Shore Boulevard West, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.

63 King City / Toronto

After 8 p.m. Friday, May 1, GO is likely detouring the buses along Lake Shore Boulevard West, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.

90B / 90C Lakeshore East early-morning / late-night

All day Saturday, May 2 and before 6 a.m. Sunday, May 3, GO is likely detouring the buses along Lake Shore Boulevard East, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.

18B / 18C / 18D / 18F / 18G / 18H Lakeshore West early-morning / late-night

All day Saturday, May 2 and before 6 a.m. Sunday, May 3, GO is likely detouring the buses along The Queensway and Lake Shore Boulevard West, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.

21 / 21A / 21B / 21D / 21G / 21H / 21M / 21N / 21P Milton / Toronto

21B and 21P branches

From 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday, May 2, all buses start and end their trips in Port Credit GO Station bus terminal. GO is only offering train service, not bus service, between Union Station and Port Credit.

Eastbound buses operate along their regular route to Hurontario Street and the Queen Elizabeth Way, then proceed:

southward along Hurontario;
westward along Park Street East;
northward along Elizabeth Street; and then
westward along Queen Street East to Port Credit GO Station,
ending their trips.

Westbound buses start their trips in Port Credit GO Station bus terminal, then proceed:

westward along Queen East;
southward along Elizabeth Street;
eastward along Park East; and then
northward along Hurontario to the Queen Elizabeth Way,
resuming their regular route northward along Hurontario.

All branches

From 8 p.m. Friday, May 1 until 6 a.m. Saturday, and from 10 p.m. Saturday, until 6 a.m. Sunday, May 3, GO is likely detouring the buses along The Queensway and Lake Shore Boulevard West, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.

65 / 65A / 65B Newmarket / Toronto

From 10 p.m. Friday, May 1 until 6 a.m. Sunday, May 3, GO is likely detouring the buses along Lake Shore Boulevard East, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.

61 Richmond Hill / Toronto

After 10 p.m. Friday, May 1, GO is likely detouring the buses along Lake Shore Boulevard East, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.

71 / 71A / 71C / 71D / 71F / 71G Stouffville / Toronto

From 10 p.m. Friday, May 1 until 6 a.m. Sunday, May 3, GO is likely detouring the buses along Lake Shore Boulevard East, instead of the Gardiner, but the buses serve all regular stops. However, GO Transit Control monitors road conditions and may direct bus drivers to detour along other streets, depending on traffic flow.