While construction and traffic are constantly present throughout the majority of Toronto neighbourhoods, one specific area of the city has been grappling with particularly brutal gridlock, and in just a few days, will face 24-hour construction noise. 

Last week, the provincial government announced that it would be helping to accelerate construction on the Gardiner Expressway by at least one year by providing the City of Toronto with up to $73 million on the condition that work is allowed to proceed up to a 24/7 basis. 

Although this timeline moves the construction completion date from April 2027 to at least April 2026, the 24-hour work means more noise for residents in Toronto's Liberty Village neighbourhood. 

Multiple condos overlook the nearby construction site, and community Facebook groups have already been plagued with complaints from local residents, who have raised concerns about the drilling and jackhammering noises potentially extending into the wee hours of the morning. 

Traffic in Liberty Village is so bad and it's only getting worse https://t.co/9yWHnS4SLD

— blogTO (@blogTO) July 20, 2024

Despite this, Ontario's multi-million dollar investment is estimated to benefit the province's economy by $273 million and get drivers out of gridlock a year faster than initially planned. 

The investment will support contractors working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with multiple shifts per day.

Additional measures are also being supported through the agreement, including modification of the Jameson to West Bound Gardiner on-ramp, opening a left-turn lane at Spadina Avenue from Lake Shore East Boulevard, and relaxing noise restrictions and overnight lane closures.

The current phase of the Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation involves the full demolition and rebuilding of 700 metres of elevated roadway from Dufferin Street to Strachan Avenue. 

While construction has been limited to operating hours between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., city staff say 24-hour work will likely begin in early August. 

Toronto residents are fuming about constant Liberty Village traffic and even more road closures are on the wayhttps://t.co/zsZcK8LPzC

— blogTO (@blogTO) July 23, 2024

However, Jodie Atkins, a director with the city's engineering and construction services, told CBC Toronto that noisier activities, such as demolition, won't be permitted from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and the City will closely monitor noise levels in real-time. 

Even with the accelerated timeline, Liberty Village residents will be forced to endure bumper-to-bumper traffic — especially before and after congested events at Budweiser Stage and BMO Field —  for another year and a half at the very least. 

The effects of the Gardiner's rehabilitation have been exacerbated by the City and TTC's simultaneous work to renew aging streetcar tracks along King Street West between Dufferin and Shaw Street. 

The good news is that this particular construction project is expected to be completed by November 2024, meaning some of the neighbourhood's traffic woes should dissipate by this fall.