December 2012

West Don Lands Stormwater System Wins Ontario Concrete Award

The West Don Lands Stormwater Treatment and Conveyance System received a 2012 Ontario Concrete Award in the infrastructure category.  

The annual awards program recognizes excellence and innovation in the use of concrete and honours some of the most creative projects in Ontario. The West Don Lands Stormwater Treatment and Conveyance project, one of ten projects recognized, was selected for its resourceful use of a variety of concrete construction methods.  

The new state-of-the-art system will treat and divert stormwater from the West Don Lands into Lake Ontario at the Keating Channel. The system includes a treatment plant, an oil grit separator, and a series of strategically located underground shafts and tunnels. Many of the key components were constructed using concrete. The project team made full use of the flexibility and innovation concrete offers by constructing in place, on site and in a precast fabricator’s yard.  

Led by Waterfront Toronto, the project team includes R.V. Anderson Associates Ltd., Eastern Construction Co. Ltd., C & M McNally Engineering Corp, and material suppliers Dufferin Concrete and Munro Ltd.

 

Queens Quay Construction Update

Queens Quay construction is progressing on schedule with one utility company now finished its work along the corridor. In early December, Enbridge completed the construction and installation of a new gas main between York Street and the west side of the Peter Slip Bridge. Other construction highlights include:

•    The TTC corridor demolition, backfilling and repaving between Bay Street and the Peter Slip Bridge is nearly complete. This work included demolition at all major intersections where crews worked one half at a time to maintain vehicular access at all times. Crews are expected to complete final repaving and other clean-up and finishing work by the end of the year.

•    Toronto Hydro crews completed a new chamber in the sidewalk area at the north-west corner of York Street and Queens Quay. The area has been completely restored for pedestrian use. Crews are also making steady progress on the construction of two new chambers located within the north travel lanes just west of Bay Street. Work in this area is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Planning is now underway for the next major phase of work: the construction of the new storm and sanitary sewers. Crews have begun drilling test pits to prepare for dewatering a commonly used construction technique which allows crews to maintain a dry and stable condition during excavation and construction.

As part of the revitalization of Queens Quay, all utilities and municipal services are being upgraded and the TTC corridor is being rebuilt. To receive detailed information on Queens Quay construction activities, subscribe to Waterfront Toronto’s weekly email updates.

Upcoming Traffic Changes on Queens Quay

The newly repaved centre lanes on Queens Quay will now be used for vehicular traffic as needed until the TTC corridor is rebuilt. Going forward, traffic will be routed along the north, centre or south travel lanes depending on the types of construction underway.  Concrete jersey barriers have been installed to demarcate the travel zone. Traffic signage will help vehicles navigate the area.  Access will be maintained to all driveways and to north-south streets.

When traffic is rerouted to the centre lanes, TTC stops may be impacted. The westbound TTC stop just west of York Street has been relocated from the northside sidewalk to the centre travel lane.  A special loading/unloading zone has been created using concrete barriers.  A designated walkway to the signalized intersection has been put in place to give passengers a safe way to access the bus stop.

Queens Quay Multimedia

Keep an eye on construction from your computer or mobile device using our Queens Quay webcams. Images from the webcams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also, if you missed last month’s official Queens Quay groundbreaking celebration, a short highlights video is now online.
 

Portland Slip Construction Update

Construction is moving at a steady pace on a new 120-metre stretch of water’s edge promenade near the foot of Bathurst Street along the western edge of the Portland Slip. At the southern end of the construction area, crews completed the installation of irrigation lines and planting soil and poured a concrete slab over approximately 85 percent of the site. After the concrete cured, crews began installing granite paving stones. Over the next month, crews will continue laying the granite pavers moving north along the promenade. The majority of granite paving stones are expected to be laid by the end of January.

The 8.4 metre wide promenade, which is expected to open next summer, features Canadian red and grey granite paving stones arranged in a maple leaf mosaic pattern. A double row of native maple trees will line the promenade offering wind protection in the winter months and shade during the summer.

Interim Martin Goodman Trail Construction Update

Construction is progressing at a rapid pace on the new stretch of Martin Goodman Trail and pedestrian sidewalk along Queens Quay East. The project is now 95 percent complete.

On the south side of Queens Quay, crews completed the installation of concrete curbs and a new sidewalk and have laid asphalt for the new stretch of Martin Goodman Trail east of Yonge Street to Dockside Drive (at Corus Quay). Crews also resurfaced the north and south travel lanes in this area. Over the next couple of weeks, two TTC laybys (for passenger loading and unloading) will be built on the south side of Queens Quay at Freeland Street and at Lower Jarvis Street.

Crews also completed improvements to the on-street bicycle lanes east of Lower Jarvis Street through to the Parliament Street intersection.  

Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2013 and will help to create a safe, connection for cyclists and pedestrians traveling from the Central Waterfront to East Bayfront.
 

Bayside Development Site Update

Toronto City Council adopted Waterfront Toronto’s Draft Plan of Subdivision and Zoning Bylaw Amendment for the Bayside Toronto Development at its November meeting. The Draft Plan of Subdivision, which will be used to regulate orderly development of the site, outlines how the area will be divided into blocks, streets and parks as well as any required municipal infrastructure. The approved amendment to the Zoning Bylaw allows streets and blocks within the Draft Plan of Subdivision to be slightly different from those anticipated when the East Bayfront Precinct Plan was approved in 2006.  

Located in East Bayfront, south of Queens Quay between Sherbourne Common and the Parliament slip, the Bayside development is a new 4-hectare neighbourhood being developed by Hines. Described by Hines as a “sustainable, vibrant, world-class destination,” the first phase of the development will include approximately 400 residential units and 225,000 square feet of office space. Sales for the first phase of residential units are expected to launch early next year.

East Bayfront External Sanitary Sewer Construction Update

In mid-December, crews completed the installation of the new sanitary and storm sewer infrastructure for East Bayfront. All traffic restrictions along Queens Quay and on Lower Jarvis Street have been lifted.

Over the next few weeks, crews will finish final tasks such as removing equipment and will work to restore any pavement and sidewalk surfaces that were disturbed during construction.  Along The Esplanade, the full restoration has been turned over to the City of Toronto which is planning improvements in the area including the installation of continuous tree pits, new pavers and passive irrigation. Upgraded lighting is also planned in coordination with Toronto Hydro.   

The important new storm and sanitary infrastructure is needed to meet the capacity required by the developing mixed-use community in East Bayfront.
 

River City Construction Update

Construction on the two buildings that make up the first phase of the River City development in the West Don Lands continues to steadily progress.  

At the seven-storey River Street building, the installation of the exterior metal cladding is nearing completion, with approximately 70 percent of the façade finished. The exterior envelope of the 16-storey King Street building continues to advance with windows installed to the 14th floor.  

Installation of glass to enclose the pedestrian bridge connecting the two buildings is currently underway and should be complete in the coming weeks. Interior suite finishes have been progressing steadily with all suites in the River Street building now fully drywalled, allowing kitchen installations and other finishes to begin. Phase one occupancy is planned for early 2013.

River City is the first private sector development in the West Don Lands. Construction of the development’s second phase is scheduled to get underway early in 2013. Suites in the three 12-storey glass mini-towers that overlook Don River Park have been selling well since sales launched last fall. To learn more or to purchase a unit, visit the River City sales centre at 554 Queen St. East or www.rivercitytoronto.com.

Check out the River City webcam to view construction progress.
 

Woonerfs

Construction has begun on the woonerfs in the West Don Lands. Woonerfs are pedestrian-oriented streets that erase the boundary between sidewalk and street, providing a common public space shared by pedestrians, cyclists and low-speed motor vehicles.
Used extensively in Europe, the woonerfs being used for some of the small local streets around the River City and Toronto Community Housing developments in the West Don Lands will be the first of their kind in Toronto.

Construction will take place in stages based on the construction schedules for the adjacent buildings. The first segment underway is located east of River Street, on the north side of Underpass Park’s eastern-most block near the first phase of the River City development.
 

Pan Am Athletes’ Village/Canary District Construction Update

Construction continues to progress well on the section of the West Don Lands that will be used as the Pan/Parapan Am Athletes’ Village.

Roadwork/Infrastructure

The subdivision storm, sanitary, water line and gas line work is substantially complete and the installation of the underground conduit and foundation work for the street lighting is in progress.

On Cherry Street, repair work to the existing water main is complete and installation of silva cells and curb work has begun at the south end of the street. On Old Eastern Avenue, repairs to the existing manholes and sewers are complete and work on the installation of hydro duct bank chambers continues.

Cherry Street between Eastern Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East, and Old Eastern Avenue will remain closed to through traffic until July 2013. This temporary closure will allow for the completion of the Cherry Street and Old Eastern Avenue reconstruction. Access will be maintained to All City Storage.

YMCA/George Brown College

Mechanical and electrical rough-in work continues and work is underway to complete the second and third floors on the east and north wings of the George Brown College residence. The parking level slab on grade and ground floor suspended slab are complete.

Affordable Housing Buildings

Crews are now forming and pouring the second level at the Fred Victor building.  At the Wigwamen building, the townhouse mezzanine floor deck and roof area are now poured, and crews have begun the columns and walls for the third level slab in the main building.

Canary District Condominiums

At the Canary District’s first market housing building site, both the north and south cranes are now erected. The detailed excavation has concluded allowing the installation of underground mechanical services and waterproofing and the forming and pouring of walls and columns to begin. On the second market housing building, shoring, lagging and caissons have been completed on the north level and detailed excavation has begun. The crew has begun to form and pour columns and the underground mechanical is underway. The final site crane is due to be erected on this block in January 2013.

For more information on the Canary District Condominiums, visit their website at www.canarydistrict.com or their sales centre located at 9 Mill Street.