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A long-awaited section of Toronto’s Lower Don Trail is set to reopen as early as next month, restoring a key connection for pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the Don Valley — but it’s not quite finished yet.
The section of trail between Belleville Underpass and Queen Street East, including the existing staircase connecting to the Riverdale Park pedestrian bridge, will reopen Aug. 1, weather permitting, after being closed since 2023 for major improvements, according to a news release from the city.
In an email, city spokesperson Jas Baweja said approximately 6.3 kilometres of the trail is already open, with about 1.3 kilometres still to be completed by August. Additional construction on the Lower Don portion is planned for the fall.
Coun. Chris Moise said the reopening is a “significant” step for residents who have been waiting for the connection to open.
“It’s a great path to connect the city,” he said. “This will be in place for generations to come.”
Baweja says the improvement project includes trail corridor regrading, widening sections of the trail, asphalt paving and new trail markings, along with seeding and new fencing along the edges of the path.
A new staircase connecting the trail to Dundas Street Bridge is also part of the work.
According to the city’s website, the project also includes the installation of handrails and bicycle troughs, and it continues to improve the path’s accessibility. Work has also been done in the area to mitigate erosion and resolve drainage issues.
While much of the trail is opening in August, the city is planning a temporary trail closure in the fall to complete the sloped pathway — a new accessible connection linking the Riverdale Pedestrian Bridge down to the existing Lower Don trail.
The remainder of the Lower Don River Trail will not be completed until next year.
Moise says he is hopeful the entire trail will be open by next year, though he does not have a specific timeline for completion.
Lawrence Warriner, the president of community group Don’t Mess with the Don, said the closures have been fairly disruptive for users.
“It wasn’t just a piece of the trail missing,” said Warriner. “Suddenly we can’t get from A to B.”
Moise says the changes will connect different wards with the rest of the city, making the trail more accessible for a wider range of people — including seniors and young families.
Project expected to stay within budget: city
The trail was initially expected to reopen in 2024.
In an email, the city said the work has been complicated by the area’s existing infrastructure, including an oil pipeline, gas main, major sewer and active rail lines, which require additional approvals and safety protocols.
“The site’s proximity to the river also presented challenges including softer ground conditions worsened by an unusually wet spring and summer that included flooding events,” said Baweja.
The project’s initial budget was about $10.9 million for the phase 2, but the budget was later increased by $2.6 million in May 2024. Baweja says as of now the project is expected to stay within the budget.
The city is planning another temporary trail closure in the fall to complete the sloped pathway — a new accessible connection linking the Riverdale Pedestrian Bridge to the existing Lower Don trail. (City of Toronto)
Meanwhile, Warriner is looking forward to people returning to the trail and seeing how different users, from mountain bikers to people with dogs, use it.
“I’d be really interested how much traffic and what sort of continuity the new trails built in for people to get on and off and pass each other,” he said.