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The busy Gardiner Expressway will be closed to traffic for its annual fall maintenance this weekend.

The City of Toronto says both directions between Don Valley Parkway/Carlaw Avenue and Highway 427/QEW will be off-limits to traffic from Friday, Nov. 2 at 11 p.m. to Monday, Nov. 5 at 5 a.m.

The highway closure was scheduled for last weekend but was postponed due to the weather.

City officials say traffic-signal timing will be changed to enhance traffic flow on nearby routes, mitigating traffic congestion associated with the expressway’s closure

“We feel that to keep that highway in a good state of repair, to close it for 53 hours this weekend, not only is it more safe for the workers, but you know what, when you get that big equipment on the highway and you have people travel within that big equipment, it sometimes raises a concern,” Mark Mills, superintendent of road operations, said.

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“So I think this is the safest, most cost-effective, cost efficient way to get this work done.”

The annual closure includes specific activities such as cleaning catch basins, marking pavements, pothole and guardrail repairs, and inspecting overhead signs.

Motorists are encouraged to use Lake Shore Boulevard, the Queensway, Bloor Street and Evans Avenue as alternative routes during the weekend closure.

The Gardiner Expressway will be closed this weekend – from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday – for maintenance & improvement activities. #CityofTO news release: https://t.co/2POze950Fg pic.twitter.com/ygEwH8Ibwm — City of Toronto (@TorontoComms) November 1, 2018