After three years of construction, Toronto, Ontario‘s revitalized waterfront boulevard opened to the public in June, on schedule and in time for both the Pan Am Games and the Redpath Waterfront Festival.
The $128.9 million Queens Quay revitalization project was funded by the federal, provincial and city governments through Waterfront Toronto, explains a release. The City of Toronto provided $65.2 million, the province $14.5 million, the federal government $13.4 million and Waterfront Toronto $35.7 million.
The money went towards a variety of features, including a wide red granite pedestrian promenade, with benches and trees planted using Silva Cells, which stitch the area together; a separated bike path that provides the missing link of the Martin Goodman Trail and features dedicated bicycle signals; a new dedicated right-of-way for transit users with, new, fully accessible platforms and shelters and a prioritized signal system; dedicated turning lanes and signals, lay-bys for car and bus passenger drop-offs; and new north-side sidewalks and landscaping that extend to the edge of storefronts.
Under the street, infrastructure has been replaced or upgraded, including power, gas, water, sewage and telecommunications systems.