The Gardiner Expressway will be shut down over the Thanksgiving long weekend for maintenance and improvements.

The city says the highway will be closed in both directions between Highway 427/ Queen Elizabeth Way and the Don Valley Parkway starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Monday.

“Crews will perform important maintenance and improvement work to help keep the highway in the best state of good repair, in advance of the coming winter season,” the city said in a news release.

The maintenance work includes line marking, overhead and ground sign inspections, pothole repair and crack sealing, graffiti removal, and street light repairs.

"We appreciate the patience of the residents of Toronto. We appreciate that it is Thanksgiving weekend and that it can be disruptive," Michael D’Andrea, chief engineer with the City of Toronto, said Friday. "Having said that, we ask that people plan in advance before they travel."