TORONTO — The provided an update on the rehabilitation of the Gardiner Expressway on Instagram Aug. 9.
Road demolition is officially complete and crews are now focused on rebuilding the two southbound lanes, including getting ready to install deck reinforcing steel, the city reported in the post.
The 60-year-old highway is being rebuilt between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue. The current phase of work involves the full demolition and rebuilding of 700 metres of elevated roadway from Dufferin Street to Strachan Avenue, rehabilitating the supporting structures and adding a new traffic management system and streetlights.Â
New bent caps (the tops of the concrete support columns) and girders (large beams that support the elevated roadway) have been installed. A temporary railing has been put in place for the upcoming rebar installation and concrete deck pour.
On July 24, the Government of Ontario announced rehabilitation work on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto is being accelerated by allowing 24/7 construction and as a result it is expected to be completed one year earlier, following public outcry about the congestion the construction is causing on the major highway. Â
Let’s build a tunnel under the Gardiner Expressway like South Korea.
The Gyeongbu Expressway, which stretches 416 kilometers from Yangjae-dong in Seoul to Busan, was completed in 1970. This highway serves as the backbone of the nation, connecting the Seoul metropolitan area with four major cities: Daejeon, Daegu, Ulsan, and Busan.
However, some cities along the Gyeongbu Expressway have raised concerns about the negative impacts on urban aesthetics due to traffic congestion, noise, and fine dust. To address these issues, Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province has pioneered the underground construction of a 1.2-kilometer section through Dongtan.
Currently, the old highway has been moved underground, and a new tunnel has been created. This space will be developed into a park for the benefit of local residents. Additionally, as a result of the underground project, six connecting roads between Dongtan 1 and 2 New Towns are set to open sequentially starting this month.