April Update: City staff will present recommendations to the Infrastructure & Environment Committee at their meeting on April 26. A copy of the staff report is available under agenda item IE3.8. You can arrange to speak or submit comments to the Committee by contacting the Administrator at 416-396-7287 or iec@toronto.ca by 4:30 p.m. on April 25. The Public Consultation Report is now available.

 

Millwood Road provides a vital connection between Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park and Leaside neighbourhoods and Downtown. In 2023, the City of Toronto is planning state-of-good-repair work on Pape Avenue, Millwood Road and Donlands Avenue due to the poor road conditions. Separately, Metrolinx is planning changes to the Millwood Road and Overlea Boulevard intersection for its Ontario Line project. These projects provide an opportunity to redesign the intersections and reconfigure the bridge between them to make improvements.

The proposed changes are focused on:

  • improving safety, connectivity and accessibility for everyone
  • improving intersection operations for motor vehicles and safety for everyone
  • maintaining roadway uses for public transit, emergency services, goods movements, driving and parking
  • enhancing green spaces

Public feedback, along with technical considerations and City policies and guidelines, will be considered in decisions to be made by staff and City Council in May 2023. Subject to approval, installation would be carried out in phases, with the first phase of construction planned for 2023 and into 2024.

The changes being proposed are on Millwood Road, from Overlea Boulevard to Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue, as well as Minton Place & Pape Avenue.
Map of Millwood Road Safety Improvements project area
Map of the project area

Today

Existing conditions at Millwood Road and Overlea Boulevard.
Aerial view of the Overlea Boulevard intersection today.
Labels pointing to current issues and challenges on the aerial view of the Overlea Boulevard intersection today, looking north.
Current issues and challenges experienced at the Overlea Boulevard intersection.

Proposed 2024 Changes by Metrolinx

Aerial view of the intersection changes, including bikeways on either side of Millwood Road.
Artistic rendering of the planned changes for 2024 by Metrolinx at Overlea Boulevard, looking north.

Proposed Final Construction by Metrolinx

Proposed changes at Millwood Road and Overlea Boulevard, which include bikeways on both sides of Millwood Road and future connections east to Overlea Boulevard.
Artistic rendering of the final construction by Metrolinx at Overlea Boulevard, looking north.
Labels pointing to areas of concern on the aerial view of the artistic rendering of the proposed design at Millwood Road and Overlea Boulevard.
Details of the proposed final construction by Metrolinx at Overlea Boulevard.

At the Overlea Boulevard intersection the following is proposed:

  • Widen and add sidewalks where they are missing and reduced curb radii
  • Increase length of southbound left-turn lane and westbound left-turn lanes to improve motor vehicle and transit operations
  • Add more green time to the busiest movements, like the southbound left-turn from Millwood Road onto Overlea Boulevard
  • Relocate and enhance bus stops
  • Accommodate all turns for large vehicles such as trucks, fire trucks and buses
  • Add cycle tracks and protected intersection elements

The proposed design is focused on improving the southbound left-turning movement for people driving, improving pedestrian conditions by reducing crossing distances, filling the missing sidewalk gap on the west side, improving and making accessible the bus stops and connecting the bicycle lanes.

Common Questions

Bus Stops

Overview of the proposed bus stop changes.
Details of the proposed bus stop changes

The TTC bus stops on the west side and east side south of Overlea Boulevard would be removed and the bus stops would be moved just north and east of the intersection to cover all existing bus routes.

Crossride (Bicycle Crossing)

Community members raised safety concerns about the implementation of the proposed crossride (bicycle crossing) on the south side of the intersection, saying that pedestrians may use it, especially, as people adjust to the initial implementation. The crossride would now be implemented as part of the Overlea Boulevard (Millwood Road to Thorncliffe Park Drive West) cycle track construction by Metrolinx at a later date. The crossrides on the north and east legs of the intersection remain unchanged from the original proposal.

A pedestrian crosswalk was also considered on the south side of the intersection, but it was ruled out as it would increase motor vehicle and bus delays.

Turning from Millwood Road to Overlea Boulevard

The left-turn lane on Millwood Road, north of Overlea Boulevard, would be lengthened to increase storage and more dedicated green time would be provided so that left-turning drivers have more time to clear the intersection.

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this page. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings or any other content, please contact us at 416-338-1066 or email millwood@toronto.ca.

Today

Cross-section of the existing conditions on the Leaside Bridge.
Cross-section of the Leaside Bridge today, looking north.
Existing conditions on the Leaside Bridge.
Aerial view of the Leaside Bridge today, looking east over the Don Valley.
Labels pointing to current issues and challenges on the aerial view of the Leaside Bridge today, looking east over the Don Valley.
Current issues and challenges experienced on the Leaside Bridge.

Proposed Changes

Cross-section of the future conditions on the Leaside Bridge.
Cross-section of the proposed changes to the Leaside Bridge, looking north.
Proposed changes on the Leaside Bridge, which include bikeways on either side of Millwood Road.
Artistic rendering of the proposed changes to the Leaside Bridge, looking east over the Don Valley.
Labels pointing to areas of concern on the aerial view of the artistic rendering of the proposed changes on the Leaside Bridge.
Details of the proposed changes to the Leaside Bridge.

On the Leaside Bridge, the following is proposed:

  • Reduce vehicle lanes from six (6) to five (5)
  • Reduce vehicle lane widths to support lower operating speeds and match the proposed reduction in speed limit to 40 km/h
  • Convert bike lanes to two-way cycle track on the west side and one-way cycle track on the east side

Common Questions

City Services

The proposed design has been reviewed by City services that use the road (Fire, EMS, Police, Solid Waste pickup, TTC, Wheel-Trans, road maintenance and snow clearing) and they have provided feedback to ensure it provides access that meets their needs.

Cycle Tracks

The unprotected bicycle lanes would be converted to a one-way cycle track on the east side and a two-way cycle track on the west side. This arrangement is proposed to reduce the number of required signalized crossings and thus reducing delay and encouraging cycling.

Motor Vehicle Volumes

The number of motor vehicle lanes heading southbound on the Leaside Bridge would be reduced from three (3) lanes to two (2) lanes. Both the existing and forecasted motor vehicle volumes can be accommodated in the two (2) southbound lanes. The northbound lanes would be retained.

Safety Fence

Based on public feedback, the City has initiated the feasibility analysis for the addition of a safety fence on the bridge.

Speed Limits

Reducing speed limits, in conjunction with lane narrowing, has safety benefits for all road users, including drivers.

The connecting roads of Pape Avenue and Donlands Avenue both have speed limits of 40 km/h, and so this speed limit reduction would normalize the speed in the project area.

Studies have shown that there’s little evidence that proposed speed limit reductions will impact travel times. Learn more.

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this page. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings or any other content, please contact us at 416-338-1066 or email millwood@toronto.ca.

Today

Existing conditions at Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue.
Aerial view of the Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue intersection today, looking west.
Labels pointing to current issues and challenges on the aerial view of the Overlea Boulevard intersection today, looking north.
Current issues and challenges experienced at the Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue intersection.

Proposed Changes

Proposed changes at Millwood Road at Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue, including bikeways and improved amenities for bus riders and pedestrians.
Artistic rendering of the proposed changes at Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue, looking west.
Labels pointing to areas of concern on the aerial view of the artistic rendering of the proposed design at Millwood Road at Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue.
Details of the proposed changes at the Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue intersection.

At the Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue intersection, the following is proposed:

  • Improved connectivity and safety for all road users with widened sidewalks, new pedestrian crossings
  • Upgraded bikeways and protected intersection elements
  • Relocated bus stops for safer crossings and more comfortable transit waiting
  • New trees and native plantings
  • Removal of nine (9) off-peak parking spaces on Donlands Avenue, two (2) permit parking spaces on Minton Place near Pape Avenue and one (1) permit parking space on Chilton Road
  • Accommodation of all turns of large vehicles such as trucks, fire trucks and buses

Key components of the design are moving the bus stop locations closer to the intersection to create more direct and safe crossings and improved transit efficiency and converting the large, unused concrete pedestrian islands to planted areas providing more shade and greening.

Common Questions

Parking Impacts

To improve safety for vulnerable road users, roadway space would be reallocated to sidewalks and bikeways. See the impacted locations.

Location Permit Parking Area Available Parking Spaces Permits Issued Number of Parking Spaces Removed
Minton Place, near Pape Avenue 8G 7 2 Up to 2
541 to 553 Donlands Avenue 9 off-peak
Chilton Avenue, near Donlands Avenue 8F 13 4 1

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this page. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings or any other content, please contact us at 416-338-1066 or email millwood@toronto.ca.

Virtual Public Meeting

A virtual public meeting was held on February 6, 2023, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and attended by over 160 people. The meeting included a presentation followed by a Question and Answer period.

Pop-up Events

Five community pop-up events were held:

  • February 13, 2023, at East York Town Centre
  • February 16, 2023, at East York Town Centre
  • February 17, 2023, at Thorncliffe Park Winter Carnival
  • March 24, 2023, at East York Town Centre
  • March 25, 2023, at Leaside Memorial Gardens

Consultation Materials

Vision Zero Road Safety Plan

The City of Toronto is proposing safety improvements on Millwood Road as part of the planned state-of-good-repair work as part of the City’s commitment to the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan. The Plan’s goal is to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by making our roads safer for everyone. Separately, Metrolinx is planning roadway work at the Millwood Road and Overlea Boulevard intersection.

In the last ten years, one (1) person was killed and three (3) people were seriously injured traveling on Millwood Road. It was identified that some of the collisions could be due to the poor sightlines along the roadway curves, the missing pedestrian crosswalk at Pape Avenue and Millwood Road, and that the traffic control signals are not accessible for people with low to no vision.

All proposed changes are focused on reducing future collisions.

Cycling Network Plan

The City Council-approved Cycling Network Plan is a comprehensive roadmap and work plan that outlines the City’s planned investment in our cycling network. It includes a Long-Term Cycling Network Vision, the planned Major City-Wide Cycling Network Routes, and a three-year rolling Near-Term Implementation Program.

The aim of the Cycling Network Plan, and the Millwood Road Safety Improvements project, is to connect gaps in Toronto’s current cycling network by growing existing and future cycling opportunities with safer and more comfortable cycling route options where quality can be improved.

Existing Conditions

Mode Share

Today, there are approximately 34,000 motor vehicle trips/day including 300 TTC buses. Millwood Road between Overlea Boulevard, Donlands Avenue and Pape Avenue carries the 25 Don Mills, 56 Leaside, 81 Thorncliffe Park, 88 South Leaside, and 100 Flemingdon Park bus routes. There are also approximately 200–400 pedestrian trips per day and 300–500 cycling trips per day.

Roadway Configuration & Speeds

Millwood Road on the Leaside Bridge has six motor vehicle lanes, but north and south of the bridge there are four motor vehicle lanes plus turn lanes at intersections. Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue have posted speed limits of 40 km/h and Overlea Boulevard and Millwood Road has a posted speed limit of 50 km/h. As part of this project, a speed study was completed and it was found that people are regularly (95th percentile speeds were utilized) travelling at 59.6 km/h in the area.

There are bicycle lanes on the Leaside Bridge and sidewalks on both sides. But the bicycle lanes do not currently connect to any bikeways north or south of the bridge, nor do they meet today’s design standards for bikeways. The west side sidewalk ends near the Overlea Boulevard intersection with no pedestrian crossing.

The southbound left turn from Millwood Road to Overlea Boulevard is in high demand from people driving. They often wait for more than one green light to get through the intersection which causes long queues.

Year Overlea Boulevard Intersection
(Work done by Metrolinx)
Leaside Bridge
(Work done by the City)
Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue Intersection
(Work done by the City)
2023 Under construction
  • One-way cycle tracks open
  • Vehicle lanes reconfigured
Construction completed
2024 First phase of construction completed Two-way cycle track on the west side opens
With Ontario Line Final construction completed

Stay Informed

Leaside Bridge and Pape Avenue & Donlands Avenue

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Overlea Boulevard

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