The City of Toronto announced today that recently completed and paused construction in three areas of downtown Toronto will help reduce traffic congestion this summer, allow for more CaféTO opportunities to support local businesses, and contribute to Pride Month celebrations in the city.
Earlier this week, the intersection at College and Beverley Streets was re-opened, following more than two months of emergency repairs due to a collapsed underground brick sewer, which dates back to 1873. Brick sewers still exist in in many cities around the world, are very reliable due to their construction and have a long lifespan. The collapse created a very large sinkhole in the roadway and the underground repairs required a coordinated approach from multiple City divisions, the TTC and other utility companies. The street closure resulted in both motor vehicle and cycling route closures, as well as TTC streetcar and bus detours.
Completion of important road resurfacing work earlier this week on Church Street will help contribute to Pride Month celebrations in Toronto. Freshly reinstated rainbow and transgender crosswalks are an important and vibrant way in which the City demonstrates and acknowledges its support for local 2SLGBT2Q+ communities year round. This week, crews reinstated the crosswalks on Church Street following the completion of planned and important road resurfacing and repair work. The work, which started on March 8, was extensive and took place along Church Street, between Gloucester Street and Park Road. The work was planned so as to reduce impacts to CaféTO participants who were able to setup their locations when outdoor dining was permitted by the Province in June. An image of the reinstated crosswalks on Church Street is available here
Through CaféTO, most restaurants in the Wellington Street East and Church Street area will have access to expanded outdoor dining space as soon as this weekend. The City has paused ongoing construction work in the area until 2022 and the road (two lanes), the boulevard and the sidewalk are expected to be restored by Saturday, June 19 (weather permitting), as well as the construction equipment removed. In March, the City and TTC began construction to renew aging streetcar infrastructure on Wellington Street East (between Yonge and Church Streets) and on Church Street (from south of King Street East to Front Street East). The City encountered a number of complex infrastructure challenges that impacted construction including conflicts with underground utilities infrastructure, alignments that have not been properly cleared and scope changes.
CaféTO on-street and sidewalk cafés that have been registered and approved on Wellington Street East, between Yonge Street and Church Street, and on Church Street, from the south of King Street East to Front Street East, can be set up by operators as soon as this Sunday, June 20. Restaurants and bars on Front Street East, between Yonge and Church Streets, can set up their registered and approved sidewalk or curb lane CaféTO locations after Monday, June 21.
Approximately five restaurants are approved for CaféTO locations along Wellington Street East, as well as other restaurants that will be approved as a result of the changes to the construction schedule.
CaféTO registration window #3 remains open to restaurant and bar operators across Toronto. CaféTO will support more than 1,025 businesses, with more coming in daily, in both Business Improvement Areas and non-Business Improvement Areas this summer.
More about CaféTO registration, including registration information and opportunities for expanded patios on private property, is available here
Information about the City’s planned capital construction work is available here
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Media contact: Media Relations, media@toronto.ca