Queen Spadina construction

This is what an urban headache looks like

Along with the weather, Toronto folk tend to make a bit too big a deal out of the various construction projects that sweep through the city in the summer months. Nevertheless, once in a while we do get roadwork worth talking about, as is the case with the recent shutdown of Queen and Spadina for TTC track reconstruction and passenger island replacement. A so-called grand union intersection, the shutdown has had at least as much impact on streetcar traffic as it has on other vehicles.

Queen Spadina construction

This has been a crucial downtown intersection for over a century with a history of track reconstruction every 25 or 30 year or so. So you'd think it'd be a complete disaster when it gets shutdown for two weeks. I suppose everyone has their own definition of what constitutes a traffic nightmare, but based on a few visits since work started things could be a lot worse. Sure, Bathurst is taking lots of overflow and gets backed up during rush hour, but all things considered, the closure has been well organized and most drivers have got word to avoid the area. There's even a handy TTC video explainer about the construction and diversions.

So while the spectacle of track replacement is certainly photo worthy, the closure is more of an inconvenience than anything else. Not a migraine — just a headache.

More construction porn:

Queen Spadina construction20120712 - Queen and Spadina-6.jpgQueen Spadina constructionQueen Spadina constructionQueen Spadina constructionQueen Spadina constructionQueen Spadina constructionQueen Spadina construction

Contemporary photos by Jimmy Lu. Toronto Archives photo from 1912.


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Canada now has a coin about New York City for some reason

Canada is 'losing winter days' with increasingly warmer temperatures

Trees are now being clear-cut for controversial new Ontario highway

Here's when Toronto's bike lanes could be ripped up in 2025

Ontario's most popular baby names for 2023 are out and they're unfortunately basic

Canada announces new border security measures including helicopters and drones

The nice list: 12 Days of Giveaways 2024 winners announced

Canada will soon launch a new tool to clamp down on fraudsters