Frustration building amid Spadina Avenue TTC construction [Video]

A six-month project to upgrade the streetcar route along Spadina Avenue has only just started, but is already causing headaches for drivers, cyclists and businesses alike.

On June 23, the TTC switched out streetcars for buses on the busy downtown artery to perform critical track renewal work at Spadina Station. The project also includes upgrades to the overhead electrical system on sections of the right-of-way route, including between King Street and Queens Quay and between College Street and Spadina Station.

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Since then, the TTC has said southbound travel times in the area have tripled from 20 to 25 minutes to more than an hour in the first week of construction alone, citing a bottleneck near the Gardiner Expressway – which is also under construction.

On Monday, the TTC modified its bus service near Rogers Centre during the weekday rush hour to circumvent the perpetual traffic jam.

But despite the service adjustment, some …