B
billonlogan
Guest
Its only an extension to fill a gap, but will help greatly getting south of the tracks, instead of using York St or Spadina.
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Simcoe St. extension to open up waterfront
Nov. 29, 2006. 01:00 AM
PAUL MOLONEY
CITY HALL BUREAU
www.thestar.com
John Graves Simcoe would be proud.
Simcoe St., the avenue named after the city's founder, is about to get longer and in the process provide downtown with another link to the waterfront.
The north-south street, parallel to University Ave., begins north of Dundas St. and runs south to Front St. beside the convention centre, where it comes to a dead stop, blocked by the elevated railway corridor.
Now, the city wants to see the road extended, passing through the rail embankment to connect with Lower Simcoe St. That means tunnelling an underpass beneath the rail corridor.
The current timetable shows most of the construction happening next year with completion in 2008.
The project is part of the city's goal to open up the city to the waterfront. But until recently progress has been slow.
"I was far more familiar with it 15 years ago than I am today," said Councillor Kyle Rae (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale). "It's in the mists of time."
The project was included in the 1983 Central Waterfront Transportation Study, but the plan was to wait for development to occur in the railway lands.
Mayor David Miller took heat during this election campaign for lack of action on revitalizing the central waterfront, but Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone said the Simcoe St. underpass is a project Miller has championed.
"Mayor Miller I know for a fact has been in the meetings where he has been urging city staff to make it happen earlier rather than later," Pantalone said.
Going up on the south side are new condominiums plus an office tower, while on the north side the new Ritz Carlton hotel and an office tower are being built, Pantalone said.
Pantalone (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) said the project is a simple tunnelling job but it would make a big difference.
"That area has got such incredible density, in Harbourfront practically all the development has already occurred. In the railway lands, if you blink you miss another tower going up. Parking lots are disappearing and buildings are going up, and people need to move around by foot, by taxi, by bicycle and by car."
Unfortunately, during the long years when the project was on hold, construction costs weren't staying put. Estimated at $32 million in 2001, the costs have grown to $48.5 million due to escalation in prices charged by contractors. Shoring work alone has increased by $5.3 million.
The cost is to be split between the city and landowners.
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Simcoe St. extension to open up waterfront
Nov. 29, 2006. 01:00 AM
PAUL MOLONEY
CITY HALL BUREAU
www.thestar.com
John Graves Simcoe would be proud.
Simcoe St., the avenue named after the city's founder, is about to get longer and in the process provide downtown with another link to the waterfront.
The north-south street, parallel to University Ave., begins north of Dundas St. and runs south to Front St. beside the convention centre, where it comes to a dead stop, blocked by the elevated railway corridor.
Now, the city wants to see the road extended, passing through the rail embankment to connect with Lower Simcoe St. That means tunnelling an underpass beneath the rail corridor.
The current timetable shows most of the construction happening next year with completion in 2008.
The project is part of the city's goal to open up the city to the waterfront. But until recently progress has been slow.
"I was far more familiar with it 15 years ago than I am today," said Councillor Kyle Rae (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale). "It's in the mists of time."
The project was included in the 1983 Central Waterfront Transportation Study, but the plan was to wait for development to occur in the railway lands.
Mayor David Miller took heat during this election campaign for lack of action on revitalizing the central waterfront, but Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone said the Simcoe St. underpass is a project Miller has championed.
"Mayor Miller I know for a fact has been in the meetings where he has been urging city staff to make it happen earlier rather than later," Pantalone said.
Going up on the south side are new condominiums plus an office tower, while on the north side the new Ritz Carlton hotel and an office tower are being built, Pantalone said.
Pantalone (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) said the project is a simple tunnelling job but it would make a big difference.
"That area has got such incredible density, in Harbourfront practically all the development has already occurred. In the railway lands, if you blink you miss another tower going up. Parking lots are disappearing and buildings are going up, and people need to move around by foot, by taxi, by bicycle and by car."
Unfortunately, during the long years when the project was on hold, construction costs weren't staying put. Estimated at $32 million in 2001, the costs have grown to $48.5 million due to escalation in prices charged by contractors. Shoring work alone has increased by $5.3 million.
The cost is to be split between the city and landowners.