Crews have urgently expedited necessary remediation work on the crumbling Gardiner Expressway over the last few months after closures along the artery immediately created even more of a traffic mess than anticipated — and, it looks like the faster pace of construction is actually working out well.

As of Thursday, the project has now moved onto its second phase, a milestone that we've managed to hit four months early, according to the Province.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said in a release late this morning that "real progress" is being made thanks to the new round-the-clock work schedule that was approved for the fixes over the summer, funded with $73 million from the Government of Ontario.

Two eastbound lanes of the road have finally been reopened, with demolition and reconstruction now able to commence on the two middle lanes. The renovation of the westbound lanes will follow after that.

I’ve been in Canada for five years, and this is the first time something has happened ahead of schedule.

Take a bow. 👏 https://t.co/KvhK8nC95c

— ganesh iyer (@Gan_iyer) November 7, 2024

Per today's update, the Gardiner should be back to normal a full year ahead of the original timeline for the project, which includes "revitalizing 700 metres of elevated roadway from Dufferin Street to Strachan Avenue, reinforcing support structures, installing new streetlights and upgrading the traffic management system."

It adds that accelerating construction will prevent potential economic losses of well over $250 million "by getting drivers and goods out of gridlock earlier than originally planned."

Mayor Olivia Chow has called the good news a result of a team effort between the City and the Province, and took to X to thank both Ontario leadership and the staff on the ground who are working 24/7 to speed things up.

"Together, we're getting Toronto moving — because we're stronger when we work together," she wrote.