Ontario Line construction on Queen Street begins May 1; work is expected to take 4 years

Pedestrian access only to Queen from Bay to Yonge, and Yonge to Victoria

Update April 29 10pm: this article was updated with a improved map, links, and description of closures.

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Starting Monday, May 1, no vehicular traffic will be allowed on sections of Queen Street in the heart of downtown Toronto.

There will only be pedestrian access to Queen Street, from Bay Street to Yonge Street and Yonge Street to Victoria Street, for an estimated four and half years. Vehicular traffic will still flow north and south on Yonge at Queen and at Victoria at Queen. Access to James Street from Queen will be closed. These diversions are to accelerate Metrolinx’s construction of an Ontario Line connection to TTC Queen Station.

“Richmond, Adelaide, King and Dundas are going to be packed for next four and a half years,” says 36-year veteran Taxi driver Jafar Mirsalari. “Drivers will need to go further north, or way down south, to avoid it.”

He notes that the minute-to-minute changes will be frustrating for drivers unfamiliar with the territory: “Traffic in Toronto is a big part of my daily business and commute; I’ve learned in 36 years of driving how to play around it, but good luck to those who are not familiar with the city, and who are relying on GPS.”

During construction, the City is encouraging anyone who is traveling downtown or to a destination near Queen Station to plan their travel in advance, allow for extra time, consider taking public transit or other travel methods such as walking or cycling and be sure to follow signage around the work zone. Toronto says access to businesses will be maintained during construction and signage will be posted throughout the area; however, if the Eglinton LRT construction experience is any indicator, businesses will endure obstacles.

“Definitely businesses are going to suffer,” Mirsalari says. “Look at King Street hotels. The Hilton and the Sheraton will survive, but definitely businesses are going to suffer. Don’t forget,” he adds, “living in a big city means, ‘be ready for crazy changes.'”

The TTC will divert the 501 Queen streetcar service and add additional bus service through the area. Information about the TTC service change is available on the TTC’s website.

City Traffic Agents will be deployed to key intersections during the morning and afternoon peak traffic periods to actively manage the movement of all road users, reduce delays and improve safety.  A total of 30 Traffic Agents are budgeted to be deployed this year, with the first wave of new employees currently being deployed to critical intersections across Toronto. Traffic Agents will be placed where they are needed most based on evolving traffic demands.

Priority Travel Routes will be established and kept clear of as many road restrictions as possible – including non-emergency utility work – to ensure that there are alternative and parallel routes for people to get around. The first Priority Travel Route is Dundas Street, from Jarvis Street to Bathurst Street, which will provide an unobstructed parallel route for vehicles travelling east/west and diverted from Queen Street. Additional Priority Travel Routes will be identified as Ontario Line construction progresses and will feature reduced on-street parking, no planned utility work, and limited lane restrictions for permitted installations and events. 

Construction Hubs also continue to play an important role in logistical planning of the right-of-way. Each Hub’s Coordinator reviews Construction Management Plans, connects travellers with real-time information, collaborates with enforcement officers and communicates impacts and changes to businesses and communities in the neighbourhood.

City staff are working with Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), Rogers and other partners on the establishment of Event Traffic Management Zones that comprise major venue blocks such as the Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, the CN Tower and Exhibition Place grounds. These zones will feature increased traffic management support from Traffic agents, traffic control personnel, temporary traffic signal timing changes and portable variable message signs to better manage the flow of event attendees. These traffic management strategies are supported by the City’s MoveTO Congestion Management Action Plan.

Once completed, the Ontario Line will provide a 15-station subway line running from Exhibition Place, through downtown, to Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East. The new subway line will also offer crowding relief within Toronto’s existing transit network.