Item - 2024.IE18.4
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on November 27, 2024 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on December 17, 2024.
IE18.4 - Ship Channel Bascule Bridge Rehabilitation Project and Unwin Avenue Bailey Bridge Replacement Study - Update
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Ward:
- 14 - Toronto - Danforth
Committee Recommendations
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:
1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to negotiate, enter into and execute on behalf of the City of Toronto a funding agreement amendment with PortsToronto for contribution by the City of up to an additional $15 million from the approved 2024 - 2033 Capital Budget and Plan for Transportation Services in order to complete the Ship Channel Bascule Bridge Rehabilitation Project, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manger, Transportation Services, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.
Origin
Summary
This report provides an update on the ongoing rehabilitation of the bascule bridge over the Ship Channel in the Port Lands, being undertaken by PortsToronto with financial support from the City of Toronto, as well as an update on the Unwin Avenue Bailey Bridge Replacement Study.
The Ship Channel Bridge is owned by PortsToronto and carries Cherry Street over the Ship Channel. In 2021, PortsToronto and the City agreed on a joint rehabilitation of the bridge in recognition of the vital role it plays providing access to the Port Lands area, with the City funding rehabilitation of the bridges approach spans and superstructure and PortsToronto funding rehabilitation of the bridge's mechanical and electrical systems. Project oversight is conducted by a joint staff level working group and an Executive Steering Committee. City Council granted authority for Transportation Services to enter into an agreement with PortsToronto to fund up to $22 million for the City portion of the works. Phase One, the approach spans, was completed in March 2024 and a portion of Phase Two, the contract for rehabilitation of the steel superstructure, has been tendered and is ready to commence in January of 2025.
PortsToronto will fund the second contract of the Phase Two works for rehabilitation of the mechanical and electrical systems with an anticipated award in the first quarter 2025.
As a result of post pandemic cost increases and supply chain challenges which have been experienced across the construction industry, along with some unforeseen work which is typical with structures of this age and complexity, and enhancements to the originally proposed traffic management to reduce delays for road users, the Phase One works cost more than originally estimated. The Phase Two contract for steel superstructure rehabilitation also reflects market conditions and is higher than originally envisaged in 2021 when the agreement with PortsToronto was completed. Given the age and type of structure and complexity of the works it can be expected that some unforeseen conditions will be encountered during construction. City staff are therefore requesting authority to amend the existing agreement with PortsToronto to provide up to an additional $15 million to complete the City funded critical bridge rehabilitation works.
Separately, in April 2024, the bridge's lifting mechanism encountered unanticipated and significant mechanical issues; a bent shaft, requiring an approximate five-month emergency repair period. During this time the bridge was raised and lowered only as able due to ongoing repairs, resulting in significant closures for road and/or ship users as the specialized repair work was completed.
The temporary emergency closure of the Ship Channel bridge during the summer of 2024 restricted access to lands south of the Ship Channel and to Cherry Beach. This put greater than anticipated demand on the existing single lane Bailey bridge on Unwin Avenue. Pre-planned capital repairs on the Bailey bridge were completed by the City in the summer of 2024, which included replacement of deck panels and waterproofing of the deck surface. These pre-planned repairs were co-ordinated with PortsToronto to ensure they were completed during periods when the Ship Channel bridge was in the lowered position.
The overall rehabilitation of the bascule bridge is anticipated to be complete in 2027, with structural steel repair and mechanical and electrical work to be carried out in parallel during the marine navigational closure period each year. This will maximize efficiencies in project delivery and avoid unnecessary disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Non-critical path work will be required to be undertaken outside of the winter navigational closure period and may require periodic road closures.
To ensure the safe continued operation of the crossing and to improve traffic conveyance and access within the area of Unwin Avenue, Transportation Services, with the support of Engineering and Construction Services, is undertaking a study of design options as part of an interim bridge replacement strategy until the City is in a position to complete the Environmental Assessment process for the re-alignment of Unwin Avenue as established in the 2017 Council-endorsed Port Lands and South of Eastern Transportation and Servicing Master Plan. The current study is considering this future re-alignment, where possible. Recommendations on a preferred bridge replacement conceptual design are anticipated in early first quarter 2025, with staff reporting back on the completed study at the end of the first quarter 2025.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-250511.pdf