Toronto drivers, rejoice! The long-term construction on the Gardiner Expressway is wrapping up much sooner than expected, over a full year ahead of schedule.
According to the province and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, all six lanes of the highway between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue are now set to reopen by October 27, 2025.
Originally slated for completion in spring 2027, the massive Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan was accelerated thanks to a $73 million investment from the provincial government earlier this year. The additional funding allowed for round-the-clock construction, speeding up the much-needed repairs on the 60-year-old expressway.
Back in August, there was another update that completion of the expressway project was expedited to wrap up in April 2026; now, it’s even six months sooner than that target.
“We’re reopening the Gardiner 18 months faster than originally planned thanks to the funding I secured and our partnership with the province,” said Mayor Olivia Chow, who also thanked Torontonians for their patience throughout the work.
However, there’s just one wildcard that could shift the reopening date; the Toronto Blue Jays playoff run.
A final weekend closure is needed to complete the last stage of work, tentatively scheduled from October 24 at 11 p.m. to October 27 at 5 a.m. If the Jays make it to the World Series and play home games that weekend, the final closure could be postponed slightly to keep fans and traffic flowing smoothly.