Article content continued

On Tuesday at the budget committee meeting, that price-tag had one left-wing councillor wondering why the city had abandoned the idea of razing the highway while another suggested charging users to pay for repairs.

“If we’re not going to bring it down, at least let it pay for itself so that other priorities can be met,” said Councillor Paula Fletcher, who said the Gardiner is the “perfect” road on which to test tolls, because Lake Shore Boulevard would remain free.

Her comment inspired Councillor Doug Ford, vice chair of the committee, to modify an idea he has floated before: enlist the private sector to tunnel a toll road under the Gardiner and demolish part of the roadway above. The rubble could go to creating more parkland along the water, he proposed, and drivers could continue to use the street-level roadway for free.

“Go and find out who wants to build a tunnel in Toronto,” he told his colleagues. “Maybe it’s probable, maybe it’s not … see what happens, it doesn’t hurt. But at least we meet halfway.”

If we’re not going to bring it down, at least let it pay for itself so that other priorities can be met

Timing will be a major factor, however. Engineering staff say the city has to speed up its plans to replace the deck in 12 years instead of 20, at a cost of more than $400-million. And repairs would have to continue while potential options crystallize.

Waterfront Toronto shelved a $7.2-million environmental assessment (EA) looking at options for the key artery about halfway through completion and used funding for other projects. Figures calculated almost a decade ago pegged the cost to tear down the road east of Spadina and expand Lake Shore Boulevard at $750-million, but city staff did not have a current estimate for the budget committee.