Increased police presence will support upload of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway and enhance park safety
To support the upload of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway from the City of Toronto to the province, the Ontario government has launched a Request for Proposals to support the construction of a new Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment on Ontario Place’s East Island. This detachment will support year-round policing at the new Ontario Place as well as traffic patrol on the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway once the roadways are designated as King’s Highways and uploaded to the province. The detachment will include a helicopter pad, a proposed marine unit and the first OPP Mounted Unit in Ontario to enhance patrol operations at the park, which is expected to attract approximately six million visitors annually.
“Protecting Ontario starts with keeping people safe where they live, work and play, and that’s exactly what this investment delivers,” said Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario. “This new OPP detachment will be well-positioned to patrol our highways, maintain a strong on-site policing presence and ensure the safety of families and all those visiting Ontario Place.”
The OPP detachment will be part of a new administration and maintenance complex that will replace the existing administration building at Ontario Place. The detachment will house specialized policing vehicles and operational functions required for highway patrol and onsite policing needs.
“The OPP is proud to continue working alongside the Toronto Police Service,” said Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique. “A modern and purpose-built detachment will ensure the OPP are able to maintain the safety and security of the new Ontario Place and fulfil our traffic safety responsibilities related to the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway being designated as King’s Highways.”
As part of the New Deal for Toronto, ownership and maintenance of the Gardiner Expressway and DVP are being transferred to the province to ensure these vital highways remain safe, reliable, toll free and in good repair, helping to fight gridlock and keeping people and goods moving across the Greater Toronto Area.
Quick Facts
- Consistent with other King’s Highways in the City of Toronto, the OPP will be responsible for traffic patrol on the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway. The Toronto Police Service will maintain responsibility for all other non-traffic patrol related policing functions.
- The province is issuing a staged Request for Proposals (RFP) to design and construct a new administrative and maintenance building and OPP Detachment as part of the Ontario Place Revitalization Project located along the East Island.
- Mounted policing units are well-suited to large, high-traffic park and public realm settings, providing police with enhanced visibility in large crowds, accessibility to pedestrian areas and improved crowd management capability.
- The Gardiner Expressway and DVP are nationally significant economic corridors tied to the provincial highway network, facilitating domestic and international trade, boosting GDP and supporting millions of visitors to Toronto annually.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
