A new pedestrian and cycle link will soon connect Toronto's Niagara, Ordnance Triangle/Liberty Village, and Fort York areas, as work nears completion on Garrison Crossing. Overseen by the City through CreateTO, the project includes a pair of bridges spanning the Lakeshore and Kitchener rail corridors, designed by Pedelta, DTAH, and AECOM.

Aerial view of Garrison Crossing, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

The project has been under construction since Fall 2016, with major milestones including the first signs of bridge abutments in Spring 2017, and the delivery and installation of the bridge spans, with the north span arriving in Summer 2018 and the south span following in Fall 2018. With the bridges structurally complete, finishing touches are being carried out for both spans as the crossing prepares for a targeted opening later this Summer.

South span at Garrison Crossing, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

Other features now in place include a paved stone landing from Garrison Common into the South Stanley Park extension, as well as new stencil-font signage bearing the project's name.

Garrison Crossing signage, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

Elements still awaiting completion include bike rail and wooden handrails for the bridge spans, installation of street furniture and signage, as well as the lighting on the bridges. The latter task is awaiting the connection of a power supply being constructed at the new Ordnance Park.

Looking northeast at Garrison Crossing, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

The three public spaces the park will link are in varying states of readiness. The northernmost of these parks is the South Stanley Park Extension, an expansion of the existing park between King and Wellington Streets. Grading for this park extension is now complete with topsoil in place, trees and shrubs planted, hydroseeding done, and the new multi-use trail through it has been paved and lit.

South Stanley Park Extension, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

One bridge to the south, the trail through Ordnance Park is closing in on completion, with final grading and paving of the trail expected to take place in August, to be followed by landscaping, planting, and laying of sod around the trail.

At the south end of the south span, the bridge touches down in Garrison Common, where both a ramp and stairs linking to the bridge are almost complete. Stainless steel cladding and mesh barriers have been applied to the ramp, while the connecting multi-use trails are now paved. The area surrounding the trails has been graded and planted.

In Councillor Joe Cressy's most recent newsletter, he says the crossing will open in late Summer 2019.

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

* * *

UrbanToronto has a new way you can track projects through the planning process on a daily basis. Sign up for a free trial of our New Development Insider here.