Item - 2015.PW2.5

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the temporary closure of William R. Allen Road, in both directions, from Eglinton Avenue West to Lawrence Avenue West from 9:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2015 to 5:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2015 to facilitate the lift and transfer of the tunnel boring machines by Metrolinx's contractor.

2. In the event that the lift and transfer of the tunnel boring machines cannot occur on the dates and times referenced in Recommendation No. 1 because of poor weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, City Council approve the temporary closure of William R. Allen Road, in both directions, from Eglinton Avenue West to Lawrence Avenue West from 9:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2015 to 5:00 a.m. on Monday, May 11, 2015 as an alternate date.

3. City Council approve the temporary closure of the southbound curb lane of William R. Allen Road from Lawrence Avenue West to Eglinton Avenue West from 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2015 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2015 to facilitate the construction staging required for the lift and transfer of the tunnel boring machines.

4. In the event that the lift and transfer of the tunnel boring machines is rescheduled to the weekend of May 8 to May 11, 2015 in accordance with Recommendation 2, City Council approve the temporary closure of the southbound curb lane of William R. Allen Road from Lawrence Avenue West to Eglinton Avenue West from 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2015 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2015 to facilitate the construction staging required for the lift and transfer of the tunnel boring machines.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council’s authority to close the section of William R. Allen Road between Eglinton Avenue West and Lawrence Avenue West for one weekend in order to safely facilitate the lift and transfer of two tunnel boring machines being utilized by Metrolinx for its construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project.  A closing of one of the southbound lanes is also recommended prior to the weekend closure in order to facilitate construction staging.

Additional closures are required on Eglinton Avenue West from Flanders Road (immediately to the east of William R. Allen Road) to Park Hill Road (immediately to the west of William R. Allen Road). This includes the off-ramp from southbound William R. Allen Road and the on-ramp to northbound William R. Allen Road.  These closures can be approved by the General Manager of Transportation Services.

Further to the proposed closure of William R. Allen Road between Eglinton Avenue West and Lawrence Avenue West, the section between Lawrence Avenue West and Sheppard Avenue West would also be closed at the same time for maintenance purposes.  This additional closure for City maintenance, which also falls under the delegated authority of the General Manager, is being combined with the closure proposed by Metrolinx to avoid the need for a second weekend closure of William R. Allen Road.

The proposed closing is scheduled on a weekend (April 17 to 20, 2015, with an alternate date of May 8 to May 11, 2015) in order to minimize the traffic disruption to area residents, businesses and commuters.