When will the Ontario government build a bridge over or a tunnel underneath Toronto?
Very unlikely. Instead, they are chopping off the section of Gardiner Expressway that connects to Don Valley Parkway. I guess they want the highway traffic going through the city. The boffins hired by the city said it will only add '2' minutes to people's commute.
Actually they want to stop traffic coming into Toronto at all... seriously. But they don't quite dare to do so as the pre amalgamation City of Toronto dwellers are not in themselves a big enough population to support the business district and the business taxes that it brings. After all there is no REAL reason why the banks and the stock exchange could not move to a more tax friendly place or places in the 905.
I am not against the idea of removing the Gardiner but this is at best a half measure response. IMHO, if it needs to be taken down from Spadina. Make the waterfront, pedestrian friendly, a place where people would want to go, it isn't right now.
They'll have to widen the lakeshore, remove atleast half of those traffic lights, increase the speed to 80km/hr, connect it to major arteries only e.g. Spadina, Yonge, Jarvis etc.
The proposal in its current form doesn't even address their 'going green, waterfront revitalization' philosophy.
The lakefront promenade in Mississauga is a pretty neat idea. You have picnic areas and a huge area for children to play on multiple splash pads, trails and park area.