The removal project covers a 1.2-kilometre stretch of Bloor Street West between Clissold Road and Royal York Road. According to the Ministry of Transportation, crews will remove the concrete barriers and bike lane markings, repaint the road, and restore one vehicle lane in each direction. Most work will take place overnight, with completion expected by November. The bike lanes were installed as part of a multi-phase cycling infrastructure project launched in 2023.
The province says restoring vehicle lanes will help reduce congestion, a plan that moved forward after the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned a lower court ruling on Aug. 14. Critics argue the benefits are limited, pointing to city findings that the removals would provide little travel-time improvement while causing months of disruption. City estimates have put the cost of removing bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue at at least $48 million, which the province has said it will cover.
The work began the same day cycling advocates announced plans to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Nearby, a 600-metre section between Resurrection Road and Clissold Road had a vehicle lane restored in December 2025 while retaining the bike lane.
No timeline has been announced for removals on Yonge Street or University Avenue. Drivers, cyclists, and local residents can expect periodic lane restrictions and construction-related impacts along the corridor in the coming weeks.
