Ontario Line Construction Could Force Don Valley Parkway Closure in Toronto

Toronto motorists could face a temporary closure of the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) as construction progresses on the Ontario Line subway project, Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay acknowledged Wednesday.

The potential disruption stems from the need to build bridges for the Ontario Line to cross the DVP within the Don Valley. Lindsay stated that the project involves constructing structures comparable to rebuilding the Bloor Viaduct multiple times, necessitating close coordination with transportation authorities.

“Potentially, is the answer to the question… we are building the Bloor Viaduct again, three times, for this project, but these are massive works. We will work with all partners to minimize disruption,” Lindsay said during a groundbreaking event.

The 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line, first announced in 2019, is intended to run from Exhibition Place, through downtown Toronto, to Eglinton Avenue and Don Mills Road. Currently estimated to cost just over $27 billion, the project aims to alleviate congestion on existing transit lines and provide a new transportation option for the city.

Opposition politicians have expressed concern over the possibility of a DVP closure. Ontario Liberal MPP John Fraser emphasized the importance of careful planning to avoid significant traffic disruptions. “That’s going to be a pretty serious thing here in Toronto; they’re going to have to think long and hard about how they do that,” Fraser said. “Hopefully, that gets planned well. I’m not convinced the government is good at planning those things … we can’t afford for this city to freeze up.”

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles echoed these concerns, questioning Metrolinx’s ability to manage the project effectively. “If he’s talking about the Don Valley (Parkway), I think Ontarians and Torontonians, in particular, should be very deeply concerned about this,” Stiles stated. “Metrolinx has shown us again and again that they can’t obtain this right, they are not learning lessons of the past.”

According to Metrolinx documentation, the Ontario Line will emerge from underground at Minton Place, south of the Leaside Bridge, and travel over the Don Valley on a new crossing before continuing through Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park. A second crossing will connect the guideways in those neighbourhoods.

The project is currently under construction, with an anticipated completion date in the early 2030s.