Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government says it will assume ownership and responsibility for the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway in fall 2027, marking a key milestone in its agreement with the City of Toronto aimed at reducing gridlock and improving transportation infrastructure.
The province announced it will provide up to $353 million to Toronto to continue operating and maintaining the two highways until the transfer is completed. During the transition period, Ontario will also help guide capital planning and infrastructure decisions to ensure work aligns with provincial standards.
The upload of the Gardiner and DVP is part of the province’s New Deal for Toronto, unveiled in November 2023, which includes financial support and infrastructure investments intended to ease traffic congestion and strengthen transportation networks across the Greater Toronto Area.
“The Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway are critical transportation arteries supporting Canada’s largest city and regional economy,” said Raly Chakarova, executive director of the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association. “Uploading these highways leverages Ontario’s expertise in managing and maintaining major highway infrastructure, while allowing Toronto to redirect resources toward much-needed state-of-good-repair investments across the local road network.
“This means a safer, more reliable transportation network for residents and visitors alike.”
Since announcing the New Deal, the province says it has provided $431.4 million to support maintenance and repairs on the Gardiner and DVP. That funding included $73 million to accelerate rehabilitation work on the Gardiner Expressway.
According to the government, the accelerated construction schedule resulted in repairs being completed more than 18 months ahead of plan, generating an estimated $273 million in economic savings and reducing travel times by up to 22 minutes per trip for the approximately 140,000 drivers who use the highway daily.
Premier Doug Ford said the upload is part of the government’s broader effort to address traffic congestion while supporting municipal infrastructure priorities.
“Our government is investing $31 billion to build new roads, highways and bridges across the province to get drivers out of gridlock,” Ford said in a statement. “Uploading the Gardiner Expressway and DVP is part of our plan to tackle bumper-to-bumper traffic impacting drivers from across Ontario and support municipal investments in public transit, homes and other vital infrastructure residents are relying on. We will never toll these highways, and we will never tear them down.”
The province described the Gardiner Expressway and DVP as nationally significant economic corridors that support domestic and international trade, contribute to economic growth and accommodate millions of visitors to Toronto each year.
Ontario says it has committed approximately $70 billion to public transit expansion projects, including the Ontario Line, Scarborough Subway Extension, Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and Yonge North Subway Extension, as well as $31 billion for highway, road and bridge construction, repair and expansion projects across the province.
