City poised to redevelop Etobicoke's 'spaghetti' junction

Major changes are coming to the traffic tangle at the heart of Etobicoke's Six Points neighbourhood, and parents say they can't come soon enough.

Julia Gussmann, walking on a narrow strip of sidewalk next to six lanes of fast-moving traffic on Dundas Street West, said there's no safe way to cross most of the roads in the area. Sometimes, she just risks it.

"You just have to wait for a gap and run across and pray that you make it alive," she told CBC Toronto.

When she's walking with her 10-year-old son, however, she avoids the area completely.

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The intersection dubbed a "spaghetti" junction by some and Toronto's worst by others exists where Bloor Street West, Kipling Avenue and Dundas Street West converge.

A city plan that's been in the works for over a decade will level the Dundas and Bloor bridges in favour of ground-level intersections, while also eliminating several on- and off-ramps. There will also be more pedestrian-friendly sidewalks as well as bike lanes.

The city plans to demolish the roads in stages and will begin the work as soon as it finds a contractor, which is expected to happen in March.

Councillor wants to create a downtown in Etobicoke

"Not making it happen is not an option,"said local Coun. Justin Di Ciano, who expects tens of thousands more people to move into his ward in the coming years as condo developers keep building new towers there.

By 2020, when the second phase of the redevelopment is finished, Di Ciano said the Six Points interchange will have an urban, pedestrian-friendly feel, befitting of the neighbourhood he wants to become Etobicoke's downtown core.

However, Di Ciano said he understands those who are skeptical that this will get done. He acknowledges thatresidents have seennothingchangeafter years of study, andseveral developments that were announced for the area never materialized.

"How long can you talk and promise something without doing a damn thing?" he said.

"They're tired of hearing about it and just want to see action that's my number one priority."

Di Ciano said a community centre and park is also planned for the land where the Westwood Theatre once stood. The councillor said he's hoping the space will bring people together for festivals and other community events.

Will Six Points really look like this?

Errico and Stephanie Giordano moved to the area three years ago, before their two young daughters were born. Playing in Six Points Park, which has a view of cars and trucks swooping from Dundas onto Kipling, Errico said he's seen some of the renderings for the project.

"I wonder how close it's going to get to that," he said.

The Giordanos said logistically, their neighbourhood is perfect thanks to its easy connection to the TTC and GO Transit, but figuring out how to the navigate the roads is difficult.

"They just need to fix it up a little bit," Stephanie said, adding her friends frequently get lost when they come to visit.

Walkingis another story. Errico said he carefully plans his routes when he's out with his daughter and her stroller, but still winds up going "off-roading" over the grassy islands amid the area's smaller roads like Viking Lane and St. Albans Road.

Prepare for construction

Di Ciano said he anticipates some delays for people moving through the area during the construction process, but said the city will notify residents about every closure.

"There's no doubt there will be disruptions," he said.

The city has also been speaking with localbusinesses to let them know what to expect.