Since Tuesday, February 18, the City of Toronto has been working on a project to replace the 105-year-old water main at
- the intersection of Bathurst Street with Lake Shore Boulevard West
and improve the streetscape on Fleet Street, including widening the sidewalk and adding public seating.
^ The work zone includes Bathurst Street between Housey Street and south of Lake Shore Boulevard West and Fleet Street just west of Bathurst.
During the course of the City’s project, the TTC is also replacing the streetcar tracks at the intersection.
Monday, March 3, the City and TTC start phase 2 of the project. From Tuesday, March 4 until Saturday, March 8 and nightly from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., TTC crews use flat-deck trailers to deliver new streetcar rails to install on Bathurst Street and at the Bathurst / Lake Shore intersection.
The City is closing:
- Bathurst Street, southbound lanes, between Housey and just south of Lake Shore West.
The transit agency continues to detour streetcars along these routes to accommodate the construction:
Shuttle buses replace the cars:
- along route 509 between Exhibition Loop and Lower Spadina Avenue; and
- along route 511 between Exhibition Loop and Bathurst Street / King Street West.
Starting Monday, March 3, the TTC revises the path for buses along the 509B Harbourfront shuttle-bus route, due to the start of phase 2 of the project.
^ 509 Harbourfront service from Family Day, Monday, February 17 until Sunday, March 2.
^ 511 Bathurst service from Sunday, February 16 until Saturday, June 21.
^ 509 Harbourfront service from Monday, March 3 until Saturday, March 29.
Construction takes place in several phases. This phase of construction and the resulting TTC detours continue until March 29.
The entire project at Bathurst / Lake Shore West / Fleet continues “until June”, meaning as late as until June 21.
A TTC news release reveals more details of the construction and detour timeline:
“Beginning Feb. 16 until June 21, 511 Bathurst streetcars will operate from Bathurst Station to King St. W. at Spadina Ave. 511B Bathurst replacement buses will operate from Bathurst St. at Queen St. W. to Exhibition Loop.
“Starting Feb. 17 until March 29, 509 Harbourfront streetcars will operate between Union Station and Spadina Ave. only. [Passengers] travelling between Spadina Ave. and Exhibition Loop can transfer to a 509B Harbourfront replacement bus to continue their journey. [Passengers] are encouraged to check www.ttc.ca before beginning their journey, as the routing of the replacement buses may be adjusted slightly to accommodate traffic conditions and construction zones.
“From March 30 until June 21, 509 Harbourfront streetcars will be suspended. Customers can use the 510A Spadina streetcar to travel between Union Station and Spadina Ave.
WheelTrans service will remain accessible in all areas where local traffic is permitted.”
Note that, in this release, the TTC is announcing that streetcar service along the 510 Spadina route resumes Sunday, March 30.
TTC crews first deliver rails from 11 p.m. Monday, March 3 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 4. They store this set of rails on Bathurst Street, north of Fleet Street, in the southbound curb lane.
A second delivery takes place from Wednesday, March 5 until Saturday, March 8 nightly from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Crews deliver these rail panels on flat-deck trailers and park or store them:
- north of the contractor’s work zone, between Fort York Boulevard and the Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway underpass; and
- in the two westbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard West, between Bathurst Street and Stadium Road.
For safety reasons, police vehicles escort the trailers to the area.
The projects return the infrastructure to a state of good repair. City Council approved the work as part of the City’s 2024 Capital Plan.
During construction, the City may close traffic lanes and restrict turns, affecting travel through the area.
Crews work 24 hours, seven days a week. They excavate and complete heavy breaking during various times throughout the day, but, mostly, they break concrete from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. Concrete-breaking work is the most disruptive and will typically last the first one to two days during each phase of construction. The TTC says, “Around-the-clock work during rail installation… is required to preserve the integrity and quality of new rail and concrete. Overnight rail work by TTC may consist of moving new rail into position, rail installation and rail welding / grinding.”
511 Bathurst
From Sunday, February 16 until Saturday, June 21, southbound cars operate along their regular path to Bathurst Street and King Street West, then detour:
eastward along King West;
northward along Spadina Avenue;
eastward along Adelaide Street West; and then
southward along Charlotte Street to Oxley Street,
ending their trips.Southbound cars no longer drop off or pick up passengers at their regular stops
- on Bathurst Street at Niagara Street and Fort York Boulevard,
- on Fleet Street beyond Bathurst and Bastion streets and Fort York Boulevard,
- on Manitoba Drive beyond Strachan Avenue and
- in Exhibition Loop.
Instead, southbound cars serve passengers at temporary stops
- on King Street West beyond Bathurst and Portland streets,
- on Spadina Avenue beyond King Street West and
- on Charlotte Street at Oxley Street.
Shuttle buses replace the cars between Bathurst Street and Exhibition Loop. Southbound streetcar passengers may board southbound buses on the west side of Bathurst Street north of King Street West.
Northbound cars start their trips on Charlotte Street at Oxley Street, then proceed:
southward along Charlotte;
westward along King Street West to Bathurst Street,
resuming their usual path northward along Bathurst.Northbound cars no longer drop off or pick up passengers at their regular stops
- in Exhibition Loop,
- on Manitoba Drive at Strachan Avenue,
- on Fleet Street beyond Fort York Boulevard, across from Bastion Street and at Bathurst Street and
- on Bathurst Street at Fort York Boulevard, Niagara Street and King Street West.
Instead, northbound cars serve passengers at temporary stops
- on Charlotte Street at Oxley Street,
- on King Street West beyond Spadina Avenue and at Portland and Bathurst streets.
Shuttle buses replace the cars between Exhibition Loop and Bathurst Street / King Street West.
511B Bathurst shuttle buses
From Sunday, February 16 until Saturday, June 21, buses replace streetcars along the 511 Bathurst route between Exhibition Loop and Bathurst Street / King Street West.
Southbound buses start their trips in Wolseley Loop (on the west side of Bathurst Street north of Queen Street West), then proceed:
southward along Bathurst Street;
west- and southward along Fort York Boulevard;
westward along Lake Shore Boulevard West and Princes’ Boulevard;
northward along Strachan Avenue; and then
westward along Manitoba Drive and the Exhibition Loop access road into Exhibition Loop,
ending their trips.Southbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- in Wolseley Loop,
- on Bathurst Street at Queen and King streets west, Niagara Street and Fort York Boulevard,
- on Fort York Boulevard beyond Bathurst Street, across from Gzowski Boulevard and at Fleet Street,
- on Princes’ Boulevard at Strachan Avenue,
- on Manitoba Drive beyond Strachan Avenue and
- in Exhibition Loop.
Northbound buses start their trips in Exhibition Loop, then proceed:
eastward along the Exhibition Loop access road, Manitoba Drive and Fleet Street,
north- and eastward along Fort York Boulevard;
northward along Bathurst Street;
eastward along Wolseley Street; and then
northward into Wolslely Loop,
ending their trips.Northbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- in Exhibition Loop,
- on Manitoba Drive at Strachan Avenue,
- on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard,
- on Fort York Boulevard at Bastion and Iannuzzi streets,
- on Bathurst Street at Niagara Street and King and Queen streets west and
- in Wolseley Loop.
Northbound bus passengers may board northbound streetcars on the east side of Bathurst Street at Queen Street West.
509 Harbourfront
From Family Day, Monday, February 17 until Saturday, March 29, eastbound cars start their trips in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop, then proceed:
southward along Lower Spadina Avenue to Queens Quay West,
resuming their regular path eastward along Queens Quay.Eastbound cars no longer drop off or pick up passengers at their regular stops
- in Exhibition Loop,
- on Manitoba Drive at Strachan Avenue,
- on Fleet Street beyond Fort York Boulevard, across from Bastion Street and at Bathurst Street,
- on Queens Quay West beyond Bathurst Street, across from Dan Leckie Way and at Lower Spadina Avenue.
Instead, eastbound cars serve passengers at a temporary stop
- in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop.
Shuttle buses replace the cars between Exhibition Loop and Lower Spadina Avenue.
Westbound cars operate along their regular path to Queens Quay West at the access to Spadina / Queens Quay Loop, then proceed:
northward into the loop,
ending their trips.Westbound cars no longer drop off or pick up passengers at their regular stops
- on Queens Quay West beyond Lower Spadina Avenue and at Dan Leckie Way,
- on Bathurst Street beyond Queens Quay West,
- on Fleet Street beyond Bathurst and Bastion streets and Fort York Boulevard,
- on Manitoba Drive beyond Strachan Avenue and
- in Exhibition Loop.
Instead, westbound cars serve passengers at a temporary stop
- in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop.
Shuttle buses replace the cars between Lower Spadina Avenue and Exhibition Loop. Westbound streetcar passengers may board westbound buses in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop.
509B Harbourfront shuttle buses
From Family Day, Monday, February 17 until Saturday, March 29, buses replace streetcars along the 509 Harbourfront route between Exhibition Loop and Lower Spadina Avenue.
Eastbound buses operate along two paths:
From Family Day, Monday, February 17 until Sunday, March 2, eastbound buses start their trips in Exhibition Loop, then proceed:
eastward along the Exhibition Loop access road, Manitoba Drive and Fleet Street,
north- and eastward along Fort York Boulevard;
southward along Bathurst Street;
eastward along Queens Quay West to Spadina / Queens Quay Loop; and then
northward into Spadina / Queens Quay Loop,
ending their trips.Eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- in Exhibition Loop,
- on Manitoba Drive at Strachan Avenue,
- on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard,
- on Fort York Boulevard at Bastion and Iannuzzi streets,
- on Bathurst Street at Fleet Street,
- on Queens Quay West beyond Bathurst Street, across from Dan Leckie Way and beyond Lower Spadina Avenue and
- in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop.
Eastbound bus passengers may board eastbound streetcars on the south side of Queens Quay West east of Lower Spadina Avenue.
From Monday, March 3 until Saturday, March 29, eastbound buses start their trips in Exhibition Loop, then proceed:
eastward along the Exhibition Loop access road, Manitoba Drive and Fleet Street,
north- and eastward along Fort York Boulevard;
southward along Bathurst Street;
eastward along Housey Street;
southward along Dan Leckie Way;
eastward along Queens Quay West to Spadina / Queens Quay Loop; and then
northward into Spadina / Queens Quay Loop,
ending their trips.Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Bathurst Street at Fleet Street and
- on Queens Quay West beyond Bathurst Street and across from Dan Leckie Way.
Eastbound buses continue to drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- in Exhibition Loop,
- on Manitoba Drive at Strachan Avenue,
- on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard,
- on Fort York Boulevard at Bastion and Iannuzzi streets,
- on Queens Quay West beyond beyond Lower Spadina Avenue and
- in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop.
Eastbound bus passengers may board eastbound streetcars on the south side of Queens Quay West east of Lower Spadina Avenue.
From Family Day, Monday, February 17 until Saturday, March 29, westbound buses start their trips in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop, then proceed:
southward along Lower Spadina Avenue;
westward along Queens Quay West;
northward along Bathurst Street;
west- and southward along Fort York Boulevard;
westward along Lake Shore Boulevard West and Princes’ Boulevard;
northward along Strachan Avenue; and then
westward along Manitoba Drive and the Exhibition Loop access road into Exhibition Loop,
ending their trips.Southbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop,
- on Queens Quay West beyond Lower Spadina Avenue and at Dan Leckie Way,
- on Bathurst Street beyond Queens Quay West,
- on Fort York Boulevard beyond Bathurst Street, across from Gzowski Boulevard and at Fleet Street,
- on Princes’ Boulevard at Strachan Avenue,
- on Manitoba Drive beyond Strachan Avenue and
- in Exhibition Loop.
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