New report to be released on the future of the Gardiner Expressway

WATCH ABOVE: A year-long study looking at the possibility of rebuilding the expressway further north is now up for public discussion. Mark McAllister reports.

TORONTO – A preliminary report on the future of the Gardiner Expressway is expected to be released on Wednesday as public consultations get underway on what to do with the crumbling highway.

The report is expected to outline the costs and traffic implications being considered for the eastern portion of the aging highway from Lower Jarvis Street to Logan Avenue.

Councillor Jaye Robinson told reporters Tuesday the three detailed scenarios include; maintaining the crumbling 2.4 kilometre strip; tearing down the eastern elevated portion; or a “hybrid” proposal that would replace the elevated portion with a more direct route.

A city staff report released last year suggested the removal of the highway “best meets the transportation and infrastructure, urban design, economics and environment objects” of the environmental assessment.

The cost of rebuilding and re-routing the “hybrid option” for the eastern portion of the elevated Gardiner Expressway is estimated to cost more than $900 million as opposed to $240 million for its removal, according to a report in The Globe and Mail.

READ MORE: City recommends portion of Gardiner Expressway be torn down

More than $400 million has been earmarked for Gardiner repairs but the cost may be higher when long-term operating and maintenance costs are added.

While Robinson refused to confirm the numbers quoted by the Globe, Mayor John Tory said in an interview with Newstalk 1010 radio Tuesday the hybrid proposal would be a sound alternative to tearing down the Gardiner.

“It would eliminate these problems with the concrete and still allow for movement of goods and services and development of that land at the foot of parkway,” he said.

Tory also asked city staff about the possibility of burying the eastern portion of the highway, however the costs would be substantial.

“Both by reason of the short length of the tunnel involved and various other reasons it would be even more expensive,” Tory said. “We’re talking billions of dollars. But I did ask.”

READ MORE: Gardiner gridlock causing headaches for cab drivers and businesses

Meanwhile, a new Forum Research poll suggests half of Torontonians (52 per cent) want all or part of the Gardiner torn down and 34 per cent say the highway is not safe for use.

However, respondents would rather have the city direct its funds to repair Toronto Community Housing buildings (21 per cent) ahead of the Gardiner (10 per cent).

The telephone poll of 865 randomly selected residents listed funding needs and asked respondents to rank them. The poll found:

• 19 per cent said building a downtown relief line
• 18 per cent said keeping the TTC in a state of good repair
• 14 per cent said building the Scarborough subway
• 6 per cent said developing the waterfront
• 8 per cent said something else

Forum Research President Dr. Lorne Bozinoff said residents recognize the litany of problems facing the city.

“The Gardiner Expressway is the municipal issue which will never go away and just continues to be kicked down the road,” said Dr. Bozinoff in a press release. “It’s always easier to initiate emergency repairs on an ad-hoc basis rather than make a long-term plan for one of the least attractive features of our city. Despite their dissatisfaction with the state of the Gardiner, however, Torontonians recognize the urgency of repairing the housing in which hundreds of thousands live.”