WATCH ABOVE: Construction and infrastructure projects consistently force the city to alter plans but City Hall says there is a method to the madness – and it’s getting better. Mark McAllister reports
TORONTO – Construction and spring maintenance are forcing the closure of the Allen Expressway this weekend with a season of many more traffic nightmares ahead for drivers.
The roadway will be closed between Eglinton and Sheppard starting at 9 p.m. Friday night and reopening at 5 a.m. Monday, April 20.
Metrolinx, the province’s regional transit authority, is moving massive tunnel boring machines – nicknamed Dennis and Lea – from the west side of Allen to the east side as they continue underground work for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
Metrolinx says hot chocolate and coffee will be available and personnel will be on-hand during the day to answer questions from the public.
Drivers are being advised to use Dufferin or Bathurst St. as alternate routes during the shutdown.
In the city’s east end, the intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard and Carlaw Avenue will be partially closed due to urgent rail repairs. The closure will take effect from Friday, April 17 at 8 p.m. to Monday, April 20 at 5 a.m.
READ MORE: New report to be released on the future of the Gardiner Expressway
The westbound lane of Lake Shore Boulevard will be closed at Carlaw Avenue and vehicles will be detoured north to Eastern Avenue or Queen Street East. At least one lane of eastbound traffic on Lake Shore Boulevard will be available to motorists at all times, while southbound traffic on Carlaw Avenue will be diverted at Queen Street East.
Saturday drivers should take note the Toronto Raptors will play their first home game of the NBA playoffs against the Washington Wizards and traffic will be congested around the Air Canada Centre as fans crowd into “Juraasic Park” just outside the stadium.
On Sunday, the Toronto Yonge Street 10K Run is also taking place and several road closures planned between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m during the annual event.
TTC service will also be disrupted due to the event. The Yonge Street 97-320 buses will be diverted using streets to the east and west.
And the headaches for drivers will not be any better for drivers in the future as a slew of closures are also scheduled in the coming weeks on major routes.
The Don Valley Parkway will be closed next weekend April 25-26 for spring maintenance and the Gardiner Expressway is off-limits May 1-3, also for the same reason.
The GoodLife Marathon will also clog up Toronto streets on Sunday, May 3.
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