Metrolinx is building the Ontario Line subway between Exhibition Place / Ontario Place and the area near the Ontario Science Centre, through downtown Toronto.
Metrolinx contractors continue rebuilding the structure of the Queen Street East bridge near the future Riverside / Leslieville Station, as part of the Ontario-line project. The bridge carries VIA Rail Canada and GO Transit trains over the street. Construction started Monday, June 5.
From Saturday, September 24 until Saturday, October 7, the TTC is revising its long-term detours due to ongoing construction at the bridge. It’s shortening the path so that streetcars along this route only operate to and from Woodbine Loop:
- 505 Dundas.
The cars also operate along Gerrard Street East, instead of Queen East, between Coxwell and Broadview avenues.
(Woodbine Loop is on the northeast corner of Queen Street East and Kingston Road.)
It’s also introducing a new shuttle-bus route to replace route 505 cars east of Kingston Road:
- 501D Queen.
Destination signs for eastbound buses along this route display:
- 501D / 513 Queen East to Neville Park.
Westbound signs display:
- 501D / 513 Queen East to Church.
(With this change, the TTC operates three different shuttle-bus routes — 501B, 501D and 501D — to replace parts of the 501 Queen route.)
Then, from 1 a.m. Sunday, September 24 until 5 a.m. Monday, September 25, the City of Toronto is closing:
- Queen Street East between McGee and DeGrassi streets
to all traffic. The TTC is detouring all service that would usually operate along this part of Queen East, meaning all buses and streetcars along these routes:
From 10 p.m. Friday, September 22 until 4 a.m. Saturday, September 23 and from 5 a.m. Monday, September 25 until 10 p.m. Friday, September 29, passengers aboard all TTC vehicles operating under the bridge can expect delays.
The City will again close the street to support this project and the TTC will again detour services from 10 p.m. Friday, September 29 until 5 a.m. Monday, October 2.
Starting 10 p.m. Friday, September 22, crews use saws to cut rails to start realigning the train tracks. They then shift the tracks to the west side of the rail corridor, where they’ll install the in their new position. They can only work on the tracks while trains aren’t operating. This weekend, GO is replacing trains with buses along the 09 Lakeshore East line and not operating trains along the 71 Stouffville line south of Kennedy GO Station.
Then, from 1 a.m. Sunday, September 24 until 5 a.m. Monday, September 25, the City closes Queen between McGee and DeGrassi streets to all traffic — meaning motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
While the street is closed and trains are temporarily not operating, contractors use excavators, saws and jackhammers to break and demolish concrete that forms part of the bridge in areas that they can only access when the rail corridor is closed. Dump trucks haul away materials, including including concrete, steel, rebar and other debris.
By working overnight, construction crews have enough time to complete all necessary activities during the closure of Queen Street East and the GO train service on the Lakeshore East corridor. Crews can’t safely move GO tracks while trains are operating along the rail corridor during the day.
Similarly, for public safety, Queen Street East must be closed during bridge demolition works. Crews must complete work with significant traffic impacts at night and over the weekend to minimize impacts to the travelling public and reduce the length of construction.
Metrolinx says that closing Queen Street East road on Sunday, September 24 allows crews to complete work in one week instead of two.
From Monday, September 25 until Friday, September 29, crews complete piling work from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day. They work to reinforce the bridge structure overnight from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m.
They use pile drill rigs to dig holes into the ground which they then fill with rebar and concrete to form temporary bridge support structures or caissons. They use welding equipment and other hand tools to build the steel beams on the bridge deck.
From 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. each night, the work zone restricts traffic on Queen Street East to one lane only, with traffic alternating in each direction.
The work zone blocks sidewalks and traffic lanes alternately on the north and south sides of Queen Street East under the bridge as work progresses from one end of the bridge to the other. It only blocks traffic lanes and sidewalks at night. They reopen during the day after each night of work.
Traffic-control personnel or a “paid-duty” Toronto Police Service officer will be present direct traffic and pedestrians.
From 10 p.m. Friday, September 29 until 5 a.m. Monday, October 2, the City again closes the roadway. Crews use saws, jackhammers, excavators, loaders and dump trucks to demolish concrete and remove materials from the bridge.
Expect noise from construction activities, including concrete-breaking, rail-cutting, and moving equipment and materials. Clear signs will be in place to direct vehicles and pedestrians. Traffic barrels, fencing and barriers will separate and secure work zones. Crews position site lighting downward into the rail corridor and away from residential properties.
This year, the City of Toronto and the TTC have started a series of major construction projects that significantly impact transit services in the east end of the former Toronto city — between Victoria Park Avenue and the Don River.
The various projects include:
- Broadview Avenue between Danforth Avenue and Gerrard Street East — rehabilitating the sewer and replacing the streetcar tracks;
- Broadview Station — upgrading the bus and streetcar platforms;
- intersection of (lower) Gerrard Street East / Eastwood Road with Coxwell Avenue — replacing the water main and renewing the streetcar tracks;
- Main Street Station — repairing the pavement and the concrete bus platform on the south side of the station;
- Queen Street East just east of DeGrassi Street — upgrading the rail overpass as part of Metrolinx’s Ontario Line subway project.
- Queen Street East at the Don River — upgrading the bridge.
See local transit commentator Steve Munro’s recent posts for details on how all these projects together disrupt transit in the east end:
- “Construction on Broadview, Gerrard/Coxwell, Main Station and Queen East”, here;
- “Construction on Broadview, Gerrard/Coxwell, Main Station and Queen East (June 2023 Update)”, here;
- “Broadview Station Loop Expansion Deferred”, here;
- “Broadview Construction Update”, here;
- “Broadview Construction Part II”, here;
- “Yet Another Change to East-End Streetcar Services”, here.
505 Dundas
The TTC continues to detour streetcars during track construction on Broadview Avenue.
From 4 a.m. Saturday, September 23 until Saturday, October 7, westbound cars start their trips in Woodbine Loop, then proceed:
eastward along Queen Street East;
northward along Coxwell;
westward along Gerrard Street East; and then
southward along Broadview Avenue to Dundas Street East,
resuming their regular path eastward along Dundas East.Westbound cars skip their long-term detour stops
- in Neville Park Loop,
- on Queen Street East at Neville Park Boulevard, Silver Birch and Beech avenues, Glen Manor Drive, Wineva, Bellefair, Elmer and Woodbine avenues, Lockwood and Woodfield roads, Greenwood and Alton avenues, Leslie Street, Jones, Brooklyn, Pape, Carlaw and Logan avenues, beyond Booth Avenue and at Boulton and Broadview avenues and
- on Broadview Avenue at Dundas Street East.
Instead, westbound cars drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Coxwell Avenue at Dundas Street East, Robbins Avenue and Eastwood Road,
- on Gerrard Street East at Ashdale Avenue, Woodfield Road, Greenwood and Prust avenues, Leslie Street, Jones, Marjory, Pape, Carlaw and Logan avenues, across from DeGrassi Street and at Broadview Avenue and
- on Broadview Avenue at Mountstephen Street and Dundas Street East.
Eastbound cars reverse the westbound detour routing.
Eastbound cars skip their long-term detour stops
- on Broadview Avenue at Queen Street East and
- on Queen Street East at Saulter Street, Empire, Logan, Carlaw, Pape and Caroline avenues, across from Jones Avenue, at Leslie Street, across from Alton and Greenwood avenues, at Woodfield Road, Coxwell Avenue, Sarah Ashbridge and Woodbine avenues, across from Elmer and Bellefair avenues and at Wineva Avenue, Glen Manor Drive, Beech and Silver Birch avenues and Neville Park Boulevard and
- in Neville Park Loop.
Instead, eastbound cars drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Broadview Avenue across from Mountstephen Street and at Gerrard Street East,
- on Gerrard Street East at DeGrassi Street, Logan, Carlaw, Pape, Marjory and Jones avenues, Leslie Street, Alton and Greenwood avenues, Woodfield Road and Ashdale and Coxwell avenues and
- on Coxwell Avenue across from Robbins Avenue and at Dundas and Queen streets east.
503 Kingston Rd
From 4 a.m. September 23 until 10 p.m. Sunday, September 24, from 5 a.m. Monday, September 25 until 10 p.m. Friday, September 29 and from 5 a.m. Monday, October 2 until Saturday, October 8, expect delays as buses operate along Queen Street East between McGee and DeGrassi streets.
From 10 p.m. September 24 until 5 a.m. September 25 and from 10 p.m. September 29 until 5 a.m. October 2, westbound buses operate along their regular path to Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue, then detour:
northward along Carlaw;
westward along Dundas Street East; and then
southward along Broadview Avenue to Queen East,
resuming their regular path westward along Queen.Westbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Queen Street East at Logan Avenue, beyond Booth Avenue and at Boulton and Broadview avenues.
Instead, westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Carlaw Avenue across from Colgate Avenue and
- on Broadview Avenue at Queen Street East.
Eastbound buses reverse the westbound detour routing.
Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Queen Street East at Broadview Avenue, Saulter Street and Empire and Logan avenues.
Instead, eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Broadview Avenue at Dundas Street East and
- on Carlaw Avenue at Colgate Avenue.
72A Pape
The TTC continues to extend the path along Queen and King streets east during track construction on Broadview Avenue.
From 4 a.m. September 23 until 10 p.m. Sunday, September 24, from 5 a.m. Monday, September 25 until 10 p.m. Friday, September 29 and from 5 a.m. Monday, October 2 until Saturday, October 8, expect delays as buses operate along Queen Street East between McGee and DeGrassi streets.
From 10 p.m. September 24 until 5 a.m. September 25 and from 10 p.m. September 29 until 5 a.m. October 2, south- and westbound buses operate along their regular path to Carlaw Avenue and Dundas Street East, then detour:
eastward along Dundas; and then
southward along Broadview Avenue to Queen Street East,
resuming their regular path westward along Queen East.South- and westbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Carlaw Avenue at Colgate Avenue and Queen Street East.
They also skip their long-term detour stops
- on Queen Street East at Logan Avenue, beyond Booth Avenue and at Boulton and Broadview avenues.
Instead, south- and westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at atemporary stop
- on Broadview Avenue at Queen Street East.
East- and northbound buses reverse the south- and westbound detour routing.
East- and northbound buses skip their long-term detour stops
- on Queen Street East at Broadview Avenue, Saulter Street and Empire and Logan avenues.
They also skip their regular stops
- on Carlaw Avenue across from Colgate Avenue and at Dundas Street East.
Instead, east- and northbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at a temporary stop
- on Broadview Avenue at Dundas Street East.
501D Queen shuttle buses
From 4 a.m. Saturday, September 23 until Saturday, October 7, the TTC is operating buses along Queen Street East between Neville Park Loop and Church Street. Buses operate along two paths:
- From 4 a.m. September 23 until 10 p.m. Sunday, September 24, from 5 a.m. Monday, September 25 until 10 p.m. Friday, September 29 and from 5 a.m. Monday, October 2 until Saturday, October 8; and
- From 10 p.m. September 24 until 5 a.m. September 25 and from 10 p.m. September 29 until 5 a.m. October 2.
Expect delays on Queen Street East between McGee and DeGrassi streets.
From 4 a.m. September 23 until 10 p.m. September 24, from 5 a.m. September 25 until 10 p.m. September 29 and from 5 a.m. October 2 until October 8, **westbound buses start their trips in Neville Park Loop, then proceed:
westward along Queen Street East;
southward along Church Street;
westward along Richmond Street East; and then
northward along Victoria Street to Queen East,
ending their trips.Westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- in Neville Park Loop,
- on Queen Street East at Neville Park Boulevard, Silver Birch and Beech avenues, Glen Manor Drive, Wineva, Bellefair, Elmer and Woodbine avenues and Lockwood and Kingston roads, Coxwell Avenue, Woodfield Road, Greenwood and Alton avenues, Leslie Street, Jones, Brooklyn, Pape, Carlaw and Logan avenues, beyond Booth Avenue, at Boulton and Broadview avenues and Carroll, River, Sumach, Sackville, Parliament, Ontario, Sherbourne and Jarvis streets,
- on Church Street at Richmond Street East and
- on Victoria Street at Queen Street East.
Westbound 501D bus passengers may transfer to westbound buses along the 501B Queen shuttle-bus route at stops on Queen Street East between Broadview Avenue and Jarvis Street.
Eastbound buses start their trips on Victoria Street south of Queen Street East, then proceed:
eastward along Queen Street East; and then
southward into Neville Park Loop,
ending their trips.Eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- on Victoria Street at Queen Street East,
- on Queen Street East at Church, Jarvis, Sherbourne, Ontario, Parliament, Sackville, Sumach and River streets, across from Carroll Street, at Broadview Avenue, Saulter Street and Empire, Logan, Carlaw, Pape and Caroline Avenues, across from Jones Avenue, at Leslie Street, across from Alton and Greenwood avenues, at Woodfield Road, Coxwell, Eastern, Sarah Ashbridge and Woodbine avenues, across from Elmer and Bellefair avenues and at Wineva Avenue, Glen Manor Drive, Beech and Silver Birch avenues and Neville Park Boulevard and
- in Neville Park Loop.
Expect delays on Queen Street East between DeGrassi and McGee streets.
From 10 p.m. September 24 until 5 a.m. September 25 and from 10 p.m. September 29 until 5 a.m. October 2,westbound buses operate along their regular path to to Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue, then detour:
northward along Carlaw;
westward along Dundas Street East; and then
southward along Broadview Avenue to Queen East,
resuming their regular path westward along Queen.Westbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Queen Street East at Logan Avenue, beyond Booth Avenue and at Boulton and Broadview avenues.
Instead, westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Carlaw Avenue across from Colgate Avenue and
- on Broadview Avenue at Queen Street East.
Eastbound buses reverse the westbound detour routing.
Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Queen Street East at Broadview Avenue, Saulter Street and Empire and Logan avenues.
Instead, eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Broadview Avenue at Dundas Street East and
- on Carlaw Avenue at Colgate Avenue.
301 Queen overnight.
Buses continue to replace streetcars along the route due to various construction projects.
From 4 a.m. September 23 until 10 p.m. Sunday, September 24, from 5 a.m. Monday, September 25 until 10 p.m. Friday, September 29 and from 5 a.m. Monday, October 2 until Saturday, October 8, expect delays as buses operate along Queen Street East between McGee and DeGrassi streets.
From 10 p.m. September 24 until 5 a.m. September 25 and from 10 p.m. September 29 until 5 a.m. October 2, westbound buses operate along their regular path to Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue, then detour:
northward along Carlaw;
westward along Dundas Street East; and then
southward along Broadview Avenue to Queen East,
resuming their regular path westward along Queen.Westbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Queen Street East at Logan Avenue, beyond Booth Avenue and at Boulton and Broadview avenues.
Instead, westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Carlaw Avenue across from Colgate Avenue and
- on Broadview Avenue at Queen Street East.
Eastbound buses reverse the westbound detour routing.
Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Queen Street East at Broadview Avenue, Saulter Street and Empire and Logan avenues.
Instead, eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Broadview Avenue at Dundas Street East and
- on Carlaw Avenue at Colgate Avenue.
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