The political gridlock over the fate of the Gardiner Expressway could start to clear today.
A preliminary report on what to do with the eastern portion of the aging highway was released at 2 p.m. at city hall, bringing some much needed facts to the debate.
The report outlines the costs and traffic implications of three options being considered for the 2.4 kilometre stretch of the Gardiner from Lower Jarvis Street to Logan Avenue.
Those options include removing the highway altogether and widening Lake Shore Boulevard to accommodate displaced traffic, maintaining the highway or a so-called “hybrid option” that would replace the elevated portion from Cherry Street to the Don Valley Parkway with a more direct route.
Maintaining the highway would cost about $870 million, while tearing it down would cost taxpayers $470 million. The so-called hybrid option would carry a $920-million price tag.
Last February a staff report came out in favour of the first option of removing the highway altogether, however public works committee subsequently voted 4-1 to defer dealing with the question until the next term of council.
“It is time that we actually make a decision. It is a big decision, it is a 100-year decision but the decision has to be made once and for all,” Public Works Chair Jaye Robinson told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. “I am not interested in any more deferrals or pushing it off and punting it into the future.”
Following the release of the report, the first of two public consultations will be held at the Toronto Reference Library from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The second meeting will take place at Blessed Cardinal Newman High School, located at 100 Brimley Rd. S., on April 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The issue will then likely be brought before the public works committee in May and city council as a whole in June.
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