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A staff report coming to the Public Works and Infrastructure committee next Tuesday recommends tearing down 2.4 kilometres of the east end of the Gardiner Expressway, from Jarvis Street to Logan Avenue. The six-lane Gardiner and the six-lane Lake Shore Boulevard East below would become a “Great Street”: one eight-lane road at grade, with an on-ramp to the Don Valley Parkway. A second report recommends an innovative way to replace the deck on the remaining portions of the Gardiner west of Jarvis. TheNational Post‘sPeter KuitenbrouwerandNatalie Alcobacompile some highlights from the report, and some initial reaction from city hall.

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Pain now for gain later

The report says that tearing down the Gardiner will initially cost more than keeping it up, but over time, the city saves money. The “net present value” of the “remove” option is $240-million, compared to the $291-million cost of keeping the highway up, the report says. Tearing down the roadway is cheaper over time, because a roadway at grade will cost less to maintain, the report says. Plus, the city will be able to sell off about four hectares of city land that will become surplus. That land could fetch up to $90-million, the report says.