Construction project will bring road closures, disrupt four TTC routes

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Another big construction project will test the patience of motorists, and transit riders alike, in the Dufferin-King Sts. area.

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The latest work will bring road closures and disruptions to four TTC surfaces routes until the end of the year.

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Beginning Feb. 18, crews will replace an aging watermain and streetcar tracks along King, between Dufferin and Shaw St. That work will reduce King to just one lane in each direction along that stretch until mid-May.

Then, from mid-May to October, King will be closed in sections, between Dufferin and Shaw, while the intersection of King and Dufferin will be closed to traffic in all directions from June to August.

City officials have assured pedestrians that sidewalks will remain accessible.

King is the busiest surface transit route in the city, as more than 72,000 riders rely on the street on an average workday, according to the city.

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“Renewing and replacing critical infrastructure is a vital part of keeping this great city moving,” Mayor Olivia Chow said in a prepared statement.

“While I appreciate that this work may be inconvenient for commuters along these routes, I am confident that the TTC has put plans in place to ensure that riders can reliably get to their destinations.”

TTC CEO Rick Leary acknowledged “construction and route diversions can be challenging,” adding transit officials are doing their best to inform riders about closures and alternate routes.

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Here’s what riders can expect during the construction:

63 Ossington

• The 63 Ossington will be extended to replace 504 King streetcars, between Shaw and Roncesvalles Ave.
• Buses will also operate both ways along Liberty St., East Liberty St. and King, between Dufferin and Roncesvalles.

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501A/501C Queen

• The 501A Queen streetcars will operate between the McCaul Loop and Dufferin Gate Loop, via Dufferin St., until 10 p.m.
• After 10 p.m., 501C Queen streetcars will operate between McCaul Loop and Long Branch Loop.

504A/504B

• The 504 King streetcars will divert onto Queen St., between Roncesvalles and Shaw.
• 504A King streetcars will continue to operate between Dundas West Station and Distillery Loop, while 504B King streetcars will operate between Humber Loop and Broadview Station, before 10 p.m.
• After 10 p.m., 504B King streetcars will operate between Roncesvalles and Broadview Station.

304 King

• 304 King streetcars will switch to Queen, between Roncesvalles and Shaw, operating between Dundas West and Broadview subway stations.

508 Lake Shore

• 508 Lake Shore streetcars will be redirected to Queen, between Roncesvalles and Shaw.

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