Major stretches of key Toronto highways will shut down for this entire weekend

Toronto highway closures this weekend include high-traffic sections of the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway, so if you're planning on heading out at all, make sure to set aside some extra time for travel. 

From Friday, Jan. 30, starting at 11 p.m. until Monday, Feb. 2, at 5 a.m., portions of the DVP and Gardiner Expressway will be closed to vehicular traffic as crews work to move the eastern section of the new Lower Don Bridge over the DVP to its permanent location. 

The work will coincide with additional road maintenance being conducted by the City of Toronto within the closure area, which includes survey work and bridge rehabilitation. 

Starting at Bayview Avenue on the DVP, all southbound lanes will be closed until the Gardiner Expressway, where lanes will then be closed westbound until Lower Jarvis Street. Access will be blocked to the Bayview on-ramp heading southbound, but the Lower Jarvis Street on-ramp for westbound travel will remain open. 

An overview of the upcoming highway closures. Photo: Metrolinx.

On the Gardiner, all eastbound traffic lanes will be closed starting at Bay Street until meeting with the DVP, where lanes will then be closed northbound until Eastern Avenue. 

Access will be blocked to the Gardiner on-ramps heading eastbound at Rees and Bay Streets, as well as the DVP on-ramp heading northbound on the Don Roadway. 

A northbound detour will be in place using Jarvis Street and Queen Street East, and a southbound detour will be available using Bayview Avenue, Gerrard Street, and Jarvis Street. 

If you're travelling in the area, you can expect lots of traffic control signage and lane tapers along the closure, as well as additional traffic, so make sure to plan your route ahead and set aside extra time for your commute. 

Lanes will reopen ahead of the Monday morning rush hour on Feb. 2.