Construction to disrupt one of the busiest TTC routes for 10 months

Major infrastructure work along King Street West is set to bring months of headache-inducing construction and service changes to one of the busiest TTC streetcar routes.

The work will take place over 10 months starting this November as the City of Toronto and TTC carry out essential infrastructure improvements along King Street West, so if you regularly ride the 504, you might want to set aside some extra travel time.

Starting this November, the City and the transit agency will replace aging watermain infrastructure and renew streetcar tracks across four sections of King Street West.

Work zones and timelines include King Street West from Close Avenue to Dufferin Street between November 2026 and August 2027, from Portland Street to Spadina Avenue between November 2026 and August 2027, from Shaw Street to Bathurst Street from March 2027 to late 2027, and at the King and York Street intersection from June to August 2027.

The TTC says construction will be coordinated and phased across the four project areas with some work overlapping when appropriate, in an effort to minimize impacts on local traffic, businesses, and transit riders.

The upcoming work will be the second time in two years that the street has been significantly impacted by construction, after the intersection of Dufferin and King was closed last fall to upgrade aging track infrastructure.

As a result of the construction, several TTC service changes will come into effect starting on Sunday, Nov. 1.

The 504/304 King streetcars will be consolidated into one branch operated between Dundas West Station and Broadview Station, while west of Spadina Avenue, 504/304 streetcars will divert via Queen Street West between Spadina Avenue and Roncesvalles Avenue.

Replacement 504C/304C King buses will be running and will operate between Sunnyside Loop at Roncesvalles Avenue and the Distillery District at Front Street East and Cherry Street.

Route 503 Kingston Road buses will be extended west to Dufferin Gate Loop, while 508 Lake Shore streetcars will be suspended during this time. Wheel-Trans service will also be maintained throughout construction on King Street West.

Route diversion maps for the affected routes will be available on the TTC's website.