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Queen Street West track and water-main construction: Phase 3 starts September 27; TTC detouring buses



Update — Thursday, January 6, 2022, 10:44 p.m.: Starting tonight, Thursday, January 6, construction between Fennings and Shaw Streets has ended and buses have resumed their regular route along Queen Street West. Buses continue to replace streetcars due to ongoing construction at the intersection of Queen Street West / King Street West / The Queensway / Roncesvalles Avenue.


UpdateNew Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1, 2022, 7:06 p.m.: Starting Sunday, January 2, the TTC is extending the long-term detour for streetcars along the 501 Queen route due to building construction on Charlotte Street. Cars continue to operate along King Streets East and West east of Parliament Street, but operate further westward to Bathurst Street.


Update — Monday, December 13, 7:51 a.m.: Phase 5A ends, phases 7 and 8 continue, Monday, December 13. The TTC is revising detours, starting Tuesday, December 14.


Update — Monday, November 29, 7:32 p.m.: Phase 5 construction ends 5 a.m. Wednesday, December 1. Phase 5A and 6 construction continues. The TTC is revising the detour routing.


Update — Thursday, November 18, 9:13 a.m.: Phase 6 construction — between Bathurst and Niagara Streets — and the resulting TTC detours start Thursday, November 15.


Update — Sunday, November 14, 4:52 p.m.: Phase 5A construction — at the rail junction of Queen Street West and Shaw Street — and the resulting TTC detours start Monday, November 15.


Update — Friday, October 29, 12:24 p.m.: Phase 5 construction — between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street — and the resulting TTC detour start Monday, November 1. Phases 5, 5A, 6 and 7 are still upcoming.


Update — Thursday, October 7, 8:31 a.m.: Phase 4 construction — between Duncan Street and Spadina Avenue — and the resulting TTC detour start “the week of” Monday, October 11.


Update — Sunday, October 4, 9:04 a.m.: Starting Thanksgiving, Monday, October 11, the TTC has operated buses, instead of streetcars, along the entire 301 Queen overnight route.


Queen West - map of phases 1 to 3 work.jpg

Starting Monday, September 27, the City of Toronto is closing:

  • Queen Street West between east of Simcoe Street and Duncan Street

to accommodate Phase 3 of a major project to upgrade infrastructure on Queen West between Fennings and Bay Streets.

During this phase, crews are replacing:

  • the top the layer of TTC track; and
  • overhead poles on the south sidewalk.

The TTC is detouring shuttle buses along these routes, while the street is closed during phase 2:

  • 501H Queen / Humber;
  • 501L Queen / Long Branch; and
  • 301L Queen / Long Branch overnight.

301-501_TW_Sep27.gif

Phase 3 construction on Queen West between Simcoe and Duncan and the resulting TTC detours continue “for approximately 4 weeks”, meaning as late as until October 25.


Earlier construction phases of the project:

Upcoming phases of the project:

  • Phase 4 — between Duncan Street and Spadina Avenue;
  • Phase 5A — at the junction of Queen West and Shaw;
  • Phase 5 — between Bathurst Street and Spadina;
  • Phase 6 — between Niagara and Bathurst Streets;
  • Phase 7 — between Shaw and Niagara Streets; and
  • Phase 8 — between east of Fennings and Shaw Street.

The City and the TTC are co-ordinating several construction projects to upgrade infrastructure, including:

  • replacing the streetcar tracks between Fennings and Bay Streets;
  • replacing the streetcar tracks at the intersection of Queen Street West with Shaw Street;
  • replacing the water main and the City-owned portion of substandard water services between University Avenue and Bay Street; and
  • improving the streetscape on Queen Street West between Spadina Avenue and McCaul Street, in partnership with the Queen Street West Business Improvement Area.

Since Monday, May 9, the TTC has detoured streetcars along these routes to accommodate the early work on the project:

  • 301 Queen overnight;
  • 501 Queen.

Buses have replaced the cars along the routes at various sites west of Parliament Street since then.


Since “the week of” Tuesday, May 25, crews have been storing and welding rail in the track area of Queen Street West between York and Bay Streets to prepare for phases 1 to 4 of this project.

The ongoing construction project at the intersection of Queen Street West / King Street West / The Queensway / Roncesvalles Avenue also continues to affect service along the routes.


501H Queen / Humber shuttle bus
501L Queen / Long Branch shuttle bus
301L Queen / Long Branch overnight bus

From Monday, September 27 until Monday, October 25, eastbound buses operate along their usual route to Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue, then proceed:

southward along Spadina;
eastward along Adelaide Street West; and then
northward along University Avenue to Queen West,
resuming their usual route eastward along Queen.

Eastbound buses skip their usual stops

  • on Queen Street West at Peter and John Streets and University Avenue.

Westbound buses operate along their usual route to Queen Street West and University Avenue, then proceed:

southward along University;
westward along Richmond Street West; and then
northward along Spadina Avenue to Queen West,
resuming their usual route westward along Queen.

Westbound buses skip their regular stops

  • on Queen Street West at St. Patrick, John and Soho Streets and Spadina Avenue.