The Gardiner Expressway will be closed all weekend long as crews conduct fall maintenance on the highway.

The closure between Carlaw Avenue and Highway 427 will begin at 11 p.m. on Friday and remain in effect until 5 a.m. on Monday.

According to a news release, the city is opting to close the highway this weekend because there are no major events scheduled in the downtown core.

Some of the specific activities that will be undertaken during the closure include the resurfacing of 1.4 kilometres of roadway, the installation of about 900 metres of median, the cleaning and repair of 300 catch basins and the crack sealing and repair of 1.5 kilometres of roadway.

As well, crews will inspect 15 bridges from Jameson Avenue to Kipling Avenue and repair 100 metres of guardrail.

During the closure, motorists are being advised to use Lake Shore Boulevard, the Queensway, King Street, Bloor Street and Evans Avenue as alternative routes.