A $300,000 comprehensive traffic study to help understand how Leaside can deal with the effects of congestion, construction and potential incoming Costco and Walmart stores will soon be undertaken. Toronto City Council approved the decision at a June 11 meeting.
The goal is to examine the feasibility of both short- and long-term solutions to congestion in the area. One solution Coun. John Parker would like to examine is the lengthening of Redway Road from Millwood Road to Nesbitt Drive, which has been considered but rejected in the past. He said now is the time to make serious moves on the issue.
“Gridlock [is] a serious problem in the city,” said Parker. “Leaside is particularly feeling a lot of pressure these days.”
Heavy construction at Eglinton Avenue East and Brentcliffe Road for the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown light rail transit (LRT) line is expected to begin next year and will create disruptions for up to 28 months. Costco Wholesale has expressed an interest in purchasing the former Coca-Cola headquarters on Overlea Boulevard, and an application by SmartCentres to construct a large retail store, rumoured to be a Walmart, on Wicksteed Avenue was recently approved.
Pascoal D’Souza, acting director, City of Toronto, Transportation Services, said the study will examine all of these factors: “Everything will be looked at comprehensively and recommendations will be made from there.”