Traffic on Toronto's Gardiner Expressway during peak hours has always been an issue, but ever since the artery was partially closed in the spring for necessary remediation work, things have gotten unthinkably worse.

Alternative routes around the highway have rapidly clogged up as the Gardiner itself has slowed to a crawl, with drivers now spending 230-250 per cent more time parked on the route during peak hour than before the construction kicked off.

Other concurrent projects in the area — like on the York Street on-ramp — have only exacerbated the congestion further. But, it seems that leaders are actually listening to the public's concerns, and are changing up the Gardiner timeline to get things done quicker.

sick of the gridlock all around the city

— Scott L (@5L4P57R4) April 18, 2024

On Wednesday, the Province announced that it will be throwing up to another $73 million toward the project to accelerate the work, moving the completion date for this phase up by "at least one year," to April 2026 at the latest.

Construction will move to a round-the-clock schedule, "will benefit Ontario's economy by an estimated $273 million by getting drivers and goods out of gridlock a year faster than planned," a release states.

It also outlines other changes that should help, such as opening a left-turn lane at Spadina Avenue from Lake Shore East Boulevard, relaxing noise restrictions and overnight lane closures, and modifying some on-ramps.

this city has two seasons: Winter (getting less and less severe) and road construction (getting worse and worse)

— Infinitus Capital (@InfinitusCap) June 6, 2024

Of course, drivers must remember that this portion of the work only affects less than a kilometre stretch of the raised freeway between Strachan and Dufferin, and that there will be more repair work to come in the future as part of the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan.

The Province recently acquired maintenance responsibilities for both the thoroughfare and the Don Valley Parkway in a larger deal to provide $1.2 billion in new operating supports to Toronto over the coming three years if terms are met.