Construction on the Gardiner Expressway is impacting business productivity, increasing CO2 emissions and more than doubling travel times during rush hours, a new study says.
According to data collected by Geotab ITS, over 140,000 vehicles a day travel along the Gardiner, but major roadworks have led to a rise in emissions and hikes in journey times that are dampening the city’s financial output.
Travel times on the Gardiner have increased up to 250 per cent in the morning rush hour and 230 per cent in the afternoon rush hour, the study reveals.
Average drive times were most impacted around 8:00 a.m. as well as the 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. commuting hours, data suggests.
Commercial drivers have also been affected and are spending 80 per cent more time on the Gardiner as a result of the construction, which can have significant economic repercussions.
According to the study, traffic congestion costs over $11 billion in productivity losses each year.
In 2023, there were 19 million commercial trips in the Toronto core, representing 151 million kilometres driven, the study found.
The speed of traffic has decreased significantly too, with the amount of cars traveling at less than 25 km/hr doubling since the construction work began in March.
According to the study, the average time to travel from the Humber River to Strachan Avenue increased from eight minutes to 20 minutes, and the typical time to travel the five kilometre stretch between Jarvis Street and Dufferin Street is now 25 minutes instead of 11 minutes.
Also, longer journeys have led to a 23 per cent increase in CO2 emissions, equating to approximately an extra 1,200 kg of CO2 daily from the vehicles in the study, which is the same as a premium roundtrip flight from Toronto to Vancouver, according to data.
Geotab ITS also recorded a 26 per cent increase in commercial vehicle idling time, and found that traffic-related air pollution is the primary source of air pollution in Toronto.
In May, City Councillor for Beaches-East York Brad Bradford launched a campaign to allow 24-hour construction on the major highway in a bid to speed up the project which has reduced the road to two lanes in each direction.
“Last month, over 1500 people signed the petition, and thanks to you, the Council approved my motion which included looking at 24/7 construction. A step in the right direction, but more needs to be done,” Bradford tweeted on Thursday.
“Torontonians deserve a stress-free commute and I am pushing to accelerate this process until it becomes a reality,” he continued.
The City of Toronto told Now Toronto in an email statement on Thursday that the Geotab report highlights just how vital the reconstruction of the Gardiner is.
“The Gardiner is an artery moving commerce across Canada. It’s important for Toronto residents, it’s important for business, and that’s why it’s critical that we get this construction work done now, so we can ensure the Gardiner is safe and reliable, and keep Toronto and Canada moving for generations to come,” the statement said.
It also said the project is progressing well and is currently running ahead of schedule, with demolitions happening overnight in order to keep Exhibition GO station and the TTC loop operational during the day.
The city is also advising drivers to plan their journey in advance and utilize alternate routes.
