Three major construction projects will close sections of the Gardiner Expressway beginning next month.

The projects all begin April 26 following the annual weekend closure for maintenance on the downtown highway.

The first project involves replacement of the deck on the elevated portion of the roadway from the Canadian National Exhibition to Grand Magazine Street and the demolition of the Garrison Road bridge, located under the expressway east of Strachan Avenue.

During the project, one lane of traffic will be closed in each direction.

That project is expected to be completed in December 2016, though all lanes will be open from June through August of next year to accommodate the Pan Am Games.

The second scheduled project involves the structural rehabilitation of three bridges between the Humber River and Park Lawn Avenue.

One lane of eastbound traffic will be closed for the maintenance, expected to be completed sometime this December.

The final project involves the replacement of the median between Ellis Avenue and Dufferin Street.

One lane of traffic in each direction is expected to be closed in that stretch to accommodate the upgrades, expected to be completed in August.

“Transportation services is doing everything in our power to ensure that alternative routes will be made as accessible as possible,” Steve Buckley, general manager of transportation services, said of the closures at a press conference Friday.

“We have aligned all three projects to ensure that once we’re out there, we’re minimizing the duration of the bottleneck,” he said.

The public will be advised of any changes to the anticipated completion dates or issues pertaining to the work, the city said.

The Gardiner will also be closed from the Don Valley Parkway to the Humber River, and from the Humber River to Highway 427 from Friday, April 25 to Monday, April 28, Mayor Rob Ford announced at the press conference.

“We have to do this full closure for maintenance,” Ford said.

Additionally, rehabilitation work will continue between York and Jarvis streets until May, the city said. Temporary shoring work at 15 locations between York Street and Dan Leckie Way is scheduled to finish next month, while general repair work between Jarvis Street and the Don Roadway is slated for completion sometime this year.