Gardiner Ramp Promises Fuel Beaches-East York Council Race
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Candidates clash over the feasibility and timing of a replacement ramp as the province prepares to take over the expressway.
A demolished Gardiner Expressway ramp has become a focal point in the race for city councillor in Beaches-East York, according to CBC Toronto. Natalie Johnson, a former CTV reporter and candidate, has centered her campaign on a promise to "rebuild" the Logan Avenue ramp, which was torn down approximately five years ago during a city revamp of the expressway.
While Johnson told CBC News that the ramp's absence has "wreaked havoc on traffic," she later clarified that her goal is to expedite the city's existing plan to build a replacement ramp at Cherry Street, rather than reconstructing the original Logan Avenue site.
Opponents argue the issue is being manufactured. Nate Erskine-Smith, a former Liberal MP running for council, described rebuilding the Logan Avenue ramp as "impossible" due to cost and previous construction. Kevin Morrison, a Toronto Catholic District School Board trustee and candidate, questioned why the ramp has become an election issue since a solution is already in the works.
Despite the friction, CBC Toronto found that seven of the 10 responding candidates—including Johnson and Erskine-Smith—support fast-tracking the new ramp. However, candidate James Dann, a former city staffer, noted that the project is currently in the design phase with no construction underway and will take years to complete.
City spokesperson Frédérique Mazerolle confirmed the Cherry Street ramp is in design. Further complicating the timeline is a 2023 deal between Mayor Olivia Chow and Premier Doug Ford, which stipulates that the province will assume responsibility for the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway next fall. Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Tanya Blazina told CBC Toronto the project remains under city control until fall 2027.