Once-frustrated drivers were able to breathe a sigh of relief on Sunday afternoon when the westbound Gardiner reopened after annual repairs were completed.
Regular spring maintenance had forced the closure of the busy route, but it was up and running by the noon hour. The city’s Transportation Department was out repairing the guardrails, resurfacing the pavement, cleaning the catch basins and sprucing up the roadway from the general wear of winter. The highway was closed between Carlaw and Jameson, but has since reopened. But consider it a preview for what’s to come.
In just two weeks, the Annual Ride for Heart will see both the Gardiner and the DVP closed completely from 3am to 2pm, to allow for a charity bike ride down both routes. The June 7th event happens every year and leaves drivers grumbling, aware it’s for a good cause but wondering about the wisdom of shutting both major routes in the city for such an extended stretch.