The City of Toronto is moving forward with several infrastructure improvements projects aimed at reducing flooding in the Rockcliffe-Smythe area by increasing the capacity of local waterways and upgrading the local sewer system.
The infrastructure improvements will be implemented in three phases.
Construction to build a new Jane Street bridge over Black Creek is expected to begin in late August 2026.
Timing for future phases of the planned improvements will be confirmed as project details are finalized.
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada. The Government of Canada has committed $129.3 million in funding through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, a Canada-wide program to support large-scale infrastructure projects and help communities better manage the risks of disasters triggered by natural hazards and climate change. The City of Toronto is providing the remaining funding.
The City will hold a Public Drop-In Event on August 18, 2026. Community members can review project information presented on panels and learn about what to expect during construction. City staff will be available to respond to questions.
Time: Drop in any time between 6:30 and 8:30 (no presentation)
Location: Alliance Event Venue, 501 Alliance Avenue
The venue is wheelchair accessible. If you require disability-related accommodation to participate, please contact us one week before the event.
Project information panels will be posted on this web page after the event.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) completed a Stage 2 Archaeology Assessment in Smythe Park and the area east of Jane Street to support Jane Street Bridge construction, following recommendations in the 2023 Environmental Assessment. First Nations Field Liaison Representatives were present for the entire Stage 2 Archaeology Assessment.
No cultural resources were identified within the project area for the Jane Street bridge and no further archaeological assessment of the project area is required ahead of the Jane Street bridge construction work.
The Ontario Heritage Act provides guidelines for archaeological discoveries and conservation.
Rockcliffe Flood Mitigation Projects - Newsletter
Starting March 6, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the City of Toronto will begin tree removal work near Jane Street and Alliance Avenue, adjacent to Smythe Park and Black Creek East Park. This work is expected to be completed by the end of March.
Tree removal is part of early preparation for utility relocation work that must take place before construction of the Jane Street bridge replacement can begin. The bridge replacement and Black Creek channel widening are not expected to start until the underground utility relocation work is completed.
Access to Smythe Park will be maintained during this work
Additional details about upcoming work and project timelines will be shared with the community through future notices and public meetings.
A public meeting was held on July 21, 2025 to learn about the Phase 1 of the Rockcliffe Flood Mitigation Project, and hear updates on the status of the Black Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer and Basement Flooding Protection Program projects. The meeting included a presentation followed by a Question and Answer period.
The City will replace both the Jane Street bridge and the Scarlett Road bridge over Black Creek. Each bridge will be constructed with a longer span to allow for widening of the concrete creek channel under the bridges. During major storms, the wider opening under the bridges will allow water to move through the channel more quickly, which will reduce flood risk.
Construction of the Jane Street bridge will be carried out in phases. Work is anticipated to begin in late August 2026. Work includes:
Reconstruction of the Scarlett Road bridge is expected to begin in late 2027 and be complete in 2029.
The City will replace the Rockcliffe Boulevard bridge, construct a flood protection wall at Weston Road, and widen the Black Creek channel from Jane Street to Alliance Avenue. This work is expected to begin in 2030 at the end of Phase 1 and continue to 2032.
Engineering design for Phase 2 started in summer 2026.
The City will widen the Lavender Creek culvert, remove Lavender Creek driveway culverts, and widen the Lavender Creek channel from Symes Road to Black Creek. This is the final phase and will take approximately two years to complete.
Artist Shanie Tomassini has been commissioned by the City of Toronto to develop public art as part of the Rockcliffe-Smythe area improvements. This project offers an opportunity to integrate public art into a space where urban infrastructure meets rich ecological life.
Two sculptures will be placed in Smythe Park as part of the restoration following Jane Street bridge construction. The ‘Water Dwellers’ emulate water-worn rocks and eroded banks, shaped by currents and time. The Ring Head sculpture, to be placed at the top of Jane Street, will be made from aluminum, catching and reflecting light. The Heart Head sculpture, at the base of the switchback trail, will be made from bronze with a green patina. Together, these sculptures invite people into attunement, wonder and relationship with the landscape.
The Rockcliffe-Smythe area, located in the floodplain of Black Creek and Lavender Creek, is one of the most flood-prone areas in Toronto. Development in the Rockcliffe-Smythe area began after World War II, when it was common to build near rivers and within natural floodplains. Many properties in the area have experienced both surface flooding and basement flooding during severe storms due to riverine flooding and overloading of the City’s sewer system. Riverine flooding occurs when waterways, such as Black Creek, overflow their banks, flooding surrounding areas and overloading the city’s sewer system.
The Rockcliffe Riverine Flood Mitigation Project Municipal Class Environmental Assessment study was carried out to determine a riverine flood mitigation solution for the Rockcliffe-Smythe area. The study was completed in 2023 and the recommendations were endorsed by City Council.
The study recommended several infrastructure projects to minimize riverine flooding risk:
To address ongoing flooding challenges, the City of Toronto will be undertaking sewer system improvements to increase the overall capacity of the sewer system.
Basement Flooding Protection Program, Project 45-48
City basement flooding projects are prioritized for implementation to benefit the greatest number of priorities. Projects are prioritized based on a City Council-adopted $68,000 cost per benefitting property threshold. Projects with a cost estimate of less than $68,000 per benefitting household at the completion of preliminary design may proceed to construction. Projects that exceed the threshold are moved into the deferred project list for future consideration, after other projects the $68,000 threshold have been scheduled for implementation. Through the preliminary design process, the cost estimate for Project 45-48 will be updated and the cost per benefitting property will be reviewed.
Work will focus on sanitary storm sewer upgrades in Basement Flooding Study Areas 4 and 45. This project is part of a broader program aimed at reducing basement and surface flooding and improving stormwater runoff quality in this flood-prone neighbourhood.
This work will begin following the completion of the Rockcliffe-Smythe riverine work, ensuring a seamless transition and alignment with broader flood prevention efforts.
Residents with basement flood damage caused by a storm event may be eligible for the Rockcliffe No Fault Grant for Basement Flooding Damages Program.
Black Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer Relief System
This project will be implemented in two phases:
Phase 1 work will involve the construction of two trunk sewers, including a 13km-long Keele Relief Trunk Sewer and a 4km-long Jane-Downsview Relief Trunk Sewer.
Phase 2 work will extend the Keele Relief Trunk Sewer northward and implement additional upgrades to the combined sewage system.
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