ABOVE: How long will the Lake Shore lane closures last – and what you need to consider when planning an alternate route. Mark McAllister reports.
TORONTO – There will be a series of “intermittent” lane closures on Lake Shore Boulevard beginning today and continuing until mid-July.
City crews are slated to begin utility work prior to resurfacing the stretch of road in hopes that will be completed before the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.
Mayoral candidate John Tory suggested Wednesday that government officials responsible for the closure of the Lakeshore didn’t consult with the people responsible for the closure of the Gardiner Expressway – which is reduced one lane until 2016.
“I’m told in this case, they didn’t. How else could we explain the fact that they end up doing the same thing at the same time?” Tory said. “It’s either grossly inconsiderate, or I’m right, which I know I am, that they didn’t talk to each other. Either one is unacceptable.”
But Stephen Buckley, the city’s manager of transportation services, said that’s just not true. He was at the table for both discussions he said and both projects are absolutely necessary.
“It’s work that needs to get done. Folks are complaining about the condition of the roads, we need to get this work done,” he said in an interview.
READ MORE: GTA residents have the longest commute times in Ontario
Watch: As construction work continues on the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard, work also continues on Queens Quay. Mark Carcasole reports.
The westbound lanes will have intermittent closures from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from Yonge Street to west of Rees Street, Bathurst Street to British Columbia Road and Parkside Drive to Windermere Avenue.
The section between British Columbia Road and Lower Spadina Avenue will experience intermittent eastbound lane closures from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The city says the Lake Shore closures were planned prior to the scheduling of the work that is currently taking place on the Gardiner Expressway.
READ MORE: Gardiner Expressway construction projects force lane closures
The work must be completed before the beginning of overnight closures for road resurfacing on Lake Shore Boulevard that will begin in July.
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