Following spring maintenance work that closed the Gardiner Expressway this weekend, the city has launched a series of long-term repair projects that will shut down parts of the highway for more than two years.

Work began Monday on three major projects, including the replacement of a steel beam guardrail between Ellis Rd. and Dufferin Ave., which will continue until August.

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Structural work on three bridges between the Humber River and Park Lawn Rd. will last through February 2015 and work on the elevated highway between the CNE and Grand Magazine will continue through December 2016. That project will be done in two phases to accommodate next summer’s Pan Am Games.

These major projects are part of a 25-year strategic development plan to help make commuting along the Gardiner smoother, said Frank Clarizio of the city’s engineering and construction division.

“As part of a 25-year plan, we are making sure that there’s ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation of the Gardiner so that it’s safe and operable for the public,” he told the Toronto Star.

Clarizio said these projects will increase commute times.

“It depends on the time of day with respect to the traffic impact,” he said. We are anticipating at least one lane in each direction being closed for the rehabilitation work. You would probably see the Gardiner only opened for two lanes in each direction for traffic.”

The city is encouraging commuters to try carpooling, public transit or driving along other routes such as Lake Shore Blvd. and Queen St.

Toronto Police Const. Clint Stibbe tweeted Monday morning that, since 6 a.m., at least nine collisions had been reported between Park Lawn Rd. and the Don Valley Parkway along the Gardiner.

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