Gardiner Expressway Maintenance Program

Road maintenance is essential in keeping the F.G. Gardiner Expressway in a state of good repair. The roadway is a key element of Toronto’s transportation system and allows people and goods to travel in and out of the city every day, stimulating economic growth and development.

The City performs regular spring or fall maintenance every couple years on the Gardiner Expressway. This maintenance typically involves a full or partial closure of the expressway over a weekend that allows City road crews, engineers and other stakeholders to make improvements and keep the through-way in a state of good repair.

A full closure of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway, from the Don Valley Parkway to Highway 427 took place on Friday, July 9, 2021 at 11 p.m. to Monday, July 12, 2021 at 5 a.m.

Work completed during the closure included:

5,995 linear metres of minor cracks repaired
50,130 m2 of milling completed using 9,164.6 tonnes of asphalt to resurface
1,000 catch basins flushed and cleaned
28 culverts inspected
Mechanical sweeping operations collected and removed 110 loads of debris totaling 309.92 tonnes
31.45 tonnes of garbage and heavy debris removed by Solid Waste and Transportation Crews
38 trees pruned and 308 small trees & saplings have been removed
119 tonnes of asphalt used for grinding and paving of 1,103 m2 of large cracks or small areas of distressed asphalt
267.5 metres of guiderail installed by In-house crews and 102 metres of guiderail installed by contracted forces
All bridge deck expansion joints, ramps and centre median wall have been cleaned and flushed
1211.15 m2 of graffiti has been removed
Weed trimming and removal completed from Carlaw to Park Lawn
11,120 metres of pavement markings installed
18 RESCU diamond loop repairs completed, 4 RESCU cameras have been repaired or maintained
Routine maintenance performed on 8 variable message signs and 8 cabinets
5 bridge deck inspections completed
20 high-mast poles inspected
70 light fixtures replaced
160 lights re-lamped
6,182 m2 of grinding and paving completed by ECS contractors between Cherry & Jarvis using 772.72 tonnes of asphalt

View the 2021 Gardiner Maintenance Video

The Gardiner Expressway has been in service for over 60 years. There is the potential for pieces of concrete from the underside of the structure to become loose. However, while these incidents are serious, it must be noted that they are in no way an indication that the expressway is not structurally sound.

After several concrete falls were recorded from the Gardiner Expressway in 2012, the City enhanced its inspection and controlled chipping program. The table below summarizes the calls received by the City every year since 2012 alerting of incidents of fallen concrete:

Year	Calls Received	Total
2018*	2 confirmed 7 unconfirmed	9
2017	0 confirmed 4 unconfirmed	4
2016	3 confirmed 9 unconfirmed	12
2015	6 confirmed 14 unconfirmed	20
2014	4 confirmed 15 unconfirmed	19
2013	5 confirmed 19 unconfirmed	24
2012	4 confirmed 5 unconfirmed	9

* As of December 6, 2018

Standardized visual inspections of the Gardiner Expressway are conducted every two years, in accordance with Provincial guidelines. The inspections assess the condition of the various components of the expressway.

In addition, up-close detailed inspections of the expressway are conducted twice per year, including the underside of the elevated portion and fascia (a concrete cover).

These inspections guide the City’s controlled chipping program where crews use equipment to remove potentially loose pieces of concrete cover from the sides or underside of the structure.