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Gerrard East wiring, track upgrades:
TTC detours start June 19



*Updated — Wednesday, July 5, 5:36 p.m.: TTC construction on Gerrard Street East west of Coxwell Avenue ends early Sunday, July 9. That same day, the TTC starts more streetcar infrastructure projects on Coxwell Avenue and on Gerrard East east of Coxwell.


Updated — Friday, June 30, 11:01 p.m.: The post now includes information about a third rail-replacement project on Gerrard Street East east of River Street.


Starting Monday, June 19, the TTC is upgrading the overhead streetcar infrastructure on

  • Gerrard Street East between Carlaw Avenue and Parliament Street.

Installing new trolley wire helps the TTC get ready to operate its new Toronto Flexity low-floor cars regularly on this section of Gerrard East.

(Updated — Friday, June 30, 11:01 p.m.) TTC crews are replacing rail at two three streetcar stops — on Gerrard East at Prust Avenue, and Highfield Road and on the bridge over the Don River east of River Street.

These projects require the TTC to detour streetcars operating along these routes:

  • 306 Carlton overnight; and
  • 506 Carlton.

Shuttle buses replace the cars between Coxwell Avenue and Parliament Street.

506306_westeastconst2.gif


The TTC is also detouring streetcars in the west end of the 506 Carlton route during construction projects on College Street. Shuttle buses operate between Lansdowne and Spadina Avenues.


TTC overhead crews work each night from 1 until 5 a.m. to upgrade the wiring as safely and with as little impact to traffic as possible. They’ll start the upgrades at Parliament and progress eastward toward Carlaw.

On average, they use two to four TTC overhead trucks with hydraulic equipment. Expect to hear noise from back-up alarms on the TTC trucks and see bright equipment lights.

The trucks occupy the track area. All other traffic can continue through the work zone, but only on the curb lanes.


(Updated — Friday, June 30, 11:01 p.m.) TTC track crews replace the old rail in two three phases:

  1. at Prust Avenue - westbound - Monday, June 19 until Friday, June 23;
  2. at Highfield Road - westbound - Monday, June 26 until Friday, June 30; and
  3. on the Don River bridge east of River Street - Tuesday, July 4 until Friday, July 8.

During each phase, the work zones restrict traffic to just one lane in each direction. The City of Toronto is prohibiting on-street parking to create a safe work zone for the crew, while they occupy the track area.

The crews mostly work from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day, but may also work overnight to maintain the construction timeline and reduce disrupting the public.

At each stop, the crews work in three steps:

  • Step 1: The track crew starts milling the concrete from the track area to expose the old rail. They also weld and grind new rail.
  • Step 2: The crew removes the old rail and installs, welds and grinds new rail. They also place concrete in the track area.
  • Step 3: The new concrete cures, before the crew removes the work zone and regular traffic can resume.

Streetcar infrastructure upgrades on Gerrard Street East and the TTC detours continue until July 9.


506 Carlton

From Monday, June 19 until Sunday, July 9, westbound cars operate along their regular route to Coxwell Avenue and [lower] Gerrard Street East, then detour:

southward along Coxwell;
westward along Queen Street East; and then
northward along Parliament Street to Gerrard East,
resuming their regular route northward along Parliament.

Westbound cars skip their regular stops

  • on Gerrard Street East at Ashdale Avenue, Highfield Road, Greenwood and Prust Avenues, Leslie Street, Jones, Marjory, Pape, Carlaw and Logan Avenues, across from De Grassi Street, at Broadview Avenue, St. Matthews Road and River, Sumach, Sackville and Parliament Streets.

Instead, westbound cars drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

  • on Coxwell Avenue across from Robbins Avenue and at Dundas and Queen Streets East,
  • on Queen Street East at Kent Road, across from Connaught Avenue, at Greenwood and Alton Avenues, Leslie Street, Jones, Brooklyn, Pape, Carlaw and Logan Avenues, west of Booth Avenue, at Boulton Street and Broadview Avenue and at Carroll, River, Sumach, Sackville and Parliament Streets and
  • on Parliament Street at Shuter Street, Dundas Street East, Oak Street and Gerrard Street East.

Eastbound cars reverse the westbound detour routing.

Eastbound cars skip their regular stops

  • on Gerrard Street East at Sackville, Sumach, River and Blackburn Streets, Broadview Avenue, De Grassi Street, Logan, Carlaw, Pape, Marjory and Jones Avenues, Alton and Greenwood Avenues, Woodfield Road and Ashdale and Coxwell Avenues.

Instead, eastbound cars drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

  • on Parliament Street across from Oak Street and at Dundas Street East, Shuter Street and Queen Street East,
  • on Queen Street East at Sackville, Sumach and River Streets, across from Carroll Street, at Broadview Avenue, Saulter Street, Empire, Logan, Carlaw, Pape and Caroline Avenues, across from Jones Avenue, at Leslie and Laing Streets, across from Greenwood Avenue and at Connaught, Woodward and Coxwell Avenues and
  • on Coxwell Avenue at Dundas Street East, Robbins Avenue and Eastwood Road.
306 Carlton ovenight

Due to this project and another on College Street, the TTC is operating buses, instead of streetcars, along the entire route between Main Street and Dundas West Stations from Sunday, June 18 at least until Sunday, July 9.

506C Carlton east shuttle

A construction project on Gerrard Street East at Carlaw Avenue requires the TTC to detour streetcars this summer and replace the cars with shuttle buses between Lansdowne and Spadina Avenues.

Starting Monday, June 19, westbound buses start their trips in Coxwell / Queen Loop, then proceed:

westward along Queen Street East;
northward along Coxwell Avenue; and then
westward along Gerrard Street East to Sherbourne Street,
ending their trips.

Westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

  • on Coxwell Avenue at Dundas Street East, Robbins Avenue and Eastwood Road and
  • on Gerrard Street East at Ashdale Avenue, Highfield Road, Greenwood and Prust Avenues, Leslie Street, Jones, Marjory, Pape, Carlaw and Logan Avenues, across from De Grassi Street, at Broadview Avenue, St. Matthews Road and River, Sumach, Sackville and Parliament Streets.

Eastbound buses start their trips on Gerrard Street East at Sherbourne Street, then proceed:

northward along Sherbourne;
eastward along Carlton Street;
southward along Parliament Street;
eastward along Gerrard East;
southward along Coxwell Avenue; and then
eastward into Queen / Coxwell loop,
ending their trips.

Eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops

  • on Sherbourne Street at Carlton Street,
  • on Carlton Street at Ontario and Parliament Street,
  • on Parliament Street at Gerrard Street East,
  • on Gerrard Street East at Sackville, Sumach, River and Blackburn Streets, Broadview Avenue, De Grassi Street, Logan, Carlaw, Pape, Marjory and Jones Avenues, Alton and Greenwood Avenues, Woodfield Road and Ashdale and Coxwell Avenues and
  • on Coxwell Avenue across from Robbins Avenue and at Dundas Street East.