All lanes of Gardiner Expressway to reopen next week as construction ends early

The hefty fee the city paid to speed up repair work on the Gardiner Expressway has paid off, with the highway due to fully reopen next week — months ahead of schedule.

Mayor John Tory announced Wednesday that the $3.4 million paid in “acceleration costs” has brought the expected completion date up to June 25 from the original October target.

“This is a modest price to pay in order to alleviate the suffering of commuters and the damage done to the economy, to family life and to the environment,” Tory said Wednesday in front of the Gardiner.

Last year the expected completion date was bumped up to July. Currently, one of the three eastbound lanes is closed between Jameson Avenue To Bathurst Street due to deck maintenance.

READ MORE: Gardiner Expressway to fully reopen in July: Mayor Tory

Tory said the early finish will avoid some $120 million in lost productivity due to the Gardiner lane work, which the city estimates costs about $1 million a day in lowered economic activity resulting from longer travel times.

Though all lanes will be reopened the repair work will continue, however, with asphalt work between Bathurst Street and Strachan Avenue not due to wrap until fall, while other repairs finish in October.

Meanwhile, the Gardiner’s York off-ramp will be closed next year to be replaced, Tory said.