TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2013 /CNW/ - Construction is on schedule to deliver the revitalization of Queens Quay for the spring of 2015 in time for the Pan Am Games. This massive revitalization project, from just west of Lower Spadina Avenue to just east of Bay Street, is rebuilding Toronto's main waterfront street both above and below ground.
The 1.7 kilometre construction site is located within an active waterfront residential neighbourhood, commercial business area and tourist destination. The site encompasses the sidewalk area on both the north and south side of Queens Quay up to the building face of each property along the street. It also includes the road and TTC corridor. During construction, traffic and transit operations are being maintained as is access to all residences and businesses. Major waterfront festivals and cultural events are also continuing uninterrupted.
When construction is complete, the new Queens Quay will feature a wide tree-lined granite pedestrian promenade alongside a new stretch of Martin Goodman Trail for cyclists. The TTC streetcar corridor and tracks are being rebuilt and the platforms widened. The realigned traffic lanes will include dedicated turning lanes with laybys to accommodate short-term parking. Granite sidewalks and new trees are being installed in front of storefronts and residences on the north side of the street.
In addition to these significant landscape improvements, most of the waterfront's aging underground infrastructure is also being expanded or rebuilt as part of this project. This "deep services" construction - which includes the installation of a new gas main, sanitary/storm sewers, hydro chambers and ducts, and new telecommunications chambers and ducts - is some of the most labour intensive and complex work required on the project.
Progress to Date Site preparation and pre-construction activities began in June 2013 followed by major demolition works in November 2013. Waterfront Toronto's coordinated construction approach, managed by Eastern Construction, has allowed the overall schedule to remain on track despite slowdowns related to deep services work. These include:
In order to accommodate the additional deep services work and the impact on ground conditions, when slowdowns occur in one area, Eastern advances work in other areas to ensure the project remains on schedule overall. Construction milestones to date include:
| Demolition | Demolition and removals of a 1.5km stretch of TTC corridor including the Spadina Loop |
| Deep Services | • Enbridge crews completed the relocation and upgrade of its gas main between York and Lower Simcoe Street. • Bell crews completed the relocation/upgrade of its existing fibre and copper network and undertook 6,000 hours of splicing • Toronto Hydro crews rebuilt 24 of 34 chambers (70%) and 33 of 52 ductbanks (63%) • Crews completed the installation of 15 of 39 manholes (38%) connected to 458 of 675 (67%) metres of sanitary sewers • Installed/replaced 10 of 19 (52%) fire hydrants • All other deep services work including storm and water infrastructure upgrades are underway |
| Landscape | • 60 metres of granite sidewalk installed between Bay and Yonge Street (Westin Hotel) • 120 metres of granite sidewalk (north side) at York Street • 25 metres of granite promenade (south side) at PawsWay/Rees WaveDeck • 75 metres of granite promenade (south side) at Simcoe WaveDeck |
| Road Work | • Completed between Bay and Yonge (Westin Hotel) • Two parking laybys complete • Peter Slip Bridge widened with new duct work on the waterside to allow for new infrastructure under the bridge |
| Martin Goodman Trail | • 610 metres completed between Bay and Jarvis |
| TTC Rebuild | • Tracks installed at Peter Slip Bridge • 8 of 10 (80%) TTC splicing chambers installed |
Upcoming Construction Activities and Milestones
The resumption of TTC streetcar service on Queens Quay is a key priority. Work is now underway to rebuild the Spadina Loop, an important piece of TTC infrastructure which allows both the 509 and 510 streetcars to reverse direction. Reconstruction of the Spadina Loop is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year. Once complete, TTC crews will commission the track allowing service on the 510 line to return to Queens Quay by February 2014. In January 2014, crews will begin the rebuild of the TTC corridor on Queens Quay. The entire corridor is scheduled to be complete and in service by July 2014.
Other milestones which will be complete by July 2014 include:
| Deep Services | • All underground construction will be complete including storm, sanitary and hydro infrastructure. |
| Landscape | • The majority of granite sidewalks on the north side will be completed • Promenade construction and Martin Goodman Trail on the south side will be underway |
| Road Work | • Majority of road work complete |
The majority of construction activities between July 2014 and July 2015 will be on the south side where crews will finish the installation of the granite promenade, the Martin Goodman Trail and almost 200 new trees.
Image with caption: "New granite installation at Rees Street (CNW Group/Waterfront Toronto)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131001_C6288_PHOTO_EN_31579.jpg
Image with caption: "Sanitary installation just east of York Street (CNW Group/Waterfront Toronto)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131001_C6288_PHOTO_EN_31580.jpg
SOURCE: Waterfront Toronto
Samantha Gileno, Manager, Project Communications, T: 416-214-1344 ext. 264 / C: 416-271-1316
[email protected]
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