A significant downtown intersection will be inaccessible to most vehicles this week due to TTC streetcar track replacement, according to city officials.
Key Details:
- Intersection affected: Adelaide and Yonge streets.
- Duration: From 6 a.m. Tuesday to 11 p.m. Friday.
- Impact: Closure to through traffic, open for pedestrians and local traffic.
City Efforts to Manage Traffic
To mitigate the expected traffic challenges, the City of Toronto has made arrangements for added on-ground support. “The City will deploy traffic agents and paid duty officers to help manage traffic in the area,” the City’s statement read.
Additionally, while the work is ongoing, local businesses won’t be affected. The city reassured residents and visitors, stating, “Local businesses in the area will remain open as usual and pedestrian access to businesses around the work zone will be maintained.”
Work Timelines and Impact on Traffic
The four-day closure is a strategic decision by the City to ensure that the streetcar work on Adelaide between Yonge and Victoria streets is completed by year’s end. Without this action, there was a possibility of the work spilling into next spring, prolonging the inconvenience.
Once reopened on Friday evening, Adelaide will not return to its full capacity immediately. It will have a reduced traffic layout of just one shared lane. The city, however, expects to reopen additional lanes on Adelaide by mid-November.
But the work on Adelaide is far from over. Beginning Oct. 16 and extending until mid-December, Adelaide’s intersection with York streets will also be closed, this time for TTC track installation. Upon completion, Adelaide will face another period of reduced traffic with only one lane open at York.
The city revealed, “This intersection was to be fully closed for six weeks starting Wednesday, Nov. 1. However, the closure date has been advanced to provide crews with more space in the work zone to help manage complexities related to relocating underground utilities.”
Looking Ahead: Long-term TTC Plans
The overall goal of these closures and work periods is to install TTC tracks on Adelaide between York and Victoria streets, aiming for completion by spring 2024. The city has indicated that lanes along the one-way eastbound street will gradually reopen as crews finalize sections of the track.
Residents and commuters are urged to plan their routes and anticipate delays in the affected areas over the coming months.
