Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway
During the 1950s, Toronto had severe traffic congestion on Lakeshore Boulevard close to Lake Ontario. The Gardiner expressway was named after the first Metro Toronto Chairman. The expressway was developed to enable travellers to reach downtown Toronto from the east and west.
The Gardiner was never extended to Scarborough which the the eastern-most part of Toronto. The City of Toronto decided to save money by shortening the eastern part of the Gardiner from Leslie Street to west if Carlaw Avenue.
Elevation:
Parts of the Gardiner run above Lakeshore Boulevard. Toronto uses road salt durind the winter season. The salt causes corrosion of steel within the concrete pillars of the elevated parts of the Gardiner.
Concrete Falls:
I witnessed some plaster falling off the Gardiner during a recent visit to Scarborough in late June of 2012. Luckily it was only plaster and it caused on a few scratches on the car. Photos were taken the very next day near the Rees Street on-ramp.
The Future:
The City of Toronto cannot afford to shut down the Gardiner or bury it as some people want. The City cannot afford to maintain an elevated expressway now and will not be able to maintain an underground expressway. The best option will be to replace the steel with salt-corrosion-free steel.
Conclusion:
The Gardiner is an important part of the City of Toronto. Toronto needs a strong leader like the late Mr. Gardiner to fix the expressway. Mr. Gardiner who had the foresight to plan for the entire expressway.
Edward is a software engineer, web developer, and author dedicated to helping people achieve their personal and professional goals through actionable advice and real-world tools.