Roadway Shutdown at King-Church Crossing Accelerated, Commencing Earlier Than Anticipated on June 2.
Hurry Up, Here Comes a Road Closure!
Listen up, folks! The bustling intersection of King Street East and Church Street in the heart of Toronto is shutting down - and it's happening sooner than you might've thought. Here's the scoop on this four-week advance schedule change.
Last month, the City of Toronto and TTC kicked off the overhaul of the 142-year-old watermains, along with pipe and streetcar track renovation at King and Church streets. This project left traffic to a crawl, with only one lane available in each direction.
But here's the twist - those ol' "unexpected underground conflicts" on the south side of King necessitated a new approach, resulting in the plan to replace part of the watermain being altered. Instead of being swapped out, it's getting a little facelift, aka relining, to help it keep rolling for a bit longer.
To stay on schedule and push things along, the watermain work and streetcar track construction will proceed hand in hand. And that means, there'll be some serious changes in your travel plans.
The TTC will implement a slew of diversions for public transit, notably the 504C and 504D/304D King routes, all thanks to the construction. Instead of their regular route, buses will skid through Jarvis, Front, (eastbound), Wellington (westbound), and Yonge streets.
In addition, existing diversions to the 503/303 Kingston Rd and the 504/304 King streetcars will maintain their current routing. The 504 King streetcar will divert in both directions via Shaw Street, while the 503 Kingston Road streetcar will continue its detour via Spadina and Queen, gliding west on King Street to the Dufferin Loop.
So, if you thought you were getting a break - think again! The intersection is expected to stay closed until mid-August. And just so you know, this work is necessary to bring the infrastructure up to snuff and is part of the City Council's approved 2025 Capital Works Program.
Originally, this construction project was slated to crank up in July and wrap up in late August. But the captain's orders are clear - speed things up and get it done!
Construction Breakdown
- Phase 1 (May - June 2025): Watermain replacement on the north, east, and west sides of the intersection is ongoing. At least one travel lane is preserved in each direction on King Street and Church Street.
- Phase 2 (June - July 2025): Watermain replacement continues on the south, east, and west sides of the intersection. One travel lane will still be accessible in each direction.
- Phase 3 (July - August 2025): During this phase, the watermain replacement will be completed, leaving the intersection closed to vehicular and cyclist traffic.
- Phase 4 (August 2025): New streetcar tracks will be installed, tested by the TTC, and sidewalk work will be completed, along with tactile plate installation.
Remember, pedestrian access will be maintained, and temporary detours will be established with suitable signage if necessary. Business access will also be available throughout the construction period.
So, bustle be gone! The Duke and Duchess of Downtown Toronto traffic are taking a bit of a vacation. Catch your breath, Torontonians - this show's about construction, not congestion!
In response to the impending road closure at King Street East and Church Street in downtown Toronto, unexpected changes have been made to the transportation and public transit industries. Beginning soon, the TTC will facilitate diversions for several routes, including the 504C and 504D/304D King routes. Furthermore, Finance ministers should take notice, as this project is a part of the City Council's approved 2025 Capital Works Program, involving significant investments in the city's infrastructure.
