In the last decade, climate change has resulted in increased flooding in urban areas. By protecting 240 hectares (593 acres), the Port Lands Flood Protection Project will enhance Toronto’s resiliency, help mitigate the impact of climate change on the city, and deliver a substantial return on investment by helping to set the stage for future residential and commercial development in the Port Lands.

The Port Lands Flood Protection Project will help create a resilient neighbourhood with a high quality of life for people of all ages and incomes. It is a comprehensive plan that will protect southeastern portions of downtown Toronto from flooding and unlock the area’s potential for development.

The project will also support economic development and job creation, as the Port Lands has enormous potential for residential and commercial development in a part of the city left unchanged during decades of development.

The project will create a new river valley through the Port Lands that allows for the natural flow of water from the Don River to Lake Ontario, involves the excavation, remediation and placement of contaminated post-industrial soil, and raises the grade in most of the area by an average of two metres.

There are four main components to the Port Lands project:

1. Earthworks
   As the defining aspect of the Port Lands project, this component will include extensive earthwork (1.5 million cubic metres of excavated soil, additional soil remediation and handling and placement of excavated soil) required to implement grade changes, and create over 1,000 metres of naturalized river valley, a new greenway, and a sediment management area north of the Keating Channel.
2. Roads, services and utilities
   This component involves the installation of new municipal infrastructure, including water mains, wastewater and storm water sewers. It will also involve the creation of roads and a transit right-of-way, and the relocation of hydro utilities.
3. Bridges and dockwall structures
   This component will include the design and construction of three new bridges and the extension of the Lake Shore Boulevard Bridge to create a wider opening over the river. Dockwalls will be also modified and created.
4. Parks, public realm and naturalized areas
   This component will create 29 hectares of new naturalized area in the river valley, which includes 14 hectares of aquatic habitat, plus an additional 16 hectares of new parkland – all of which will strengthen biodiversity and help clean our water. This component will also involve the construction of trails, boardwalks, overlooks, a small boat launch and fishing sites within the floodplain area. Parks, paths, planted woodlands and a water’s edge promenade will be built outside the floodplain area.

The Port Lands Flood Protection Project builds on the substantial progress made by the federal, provincial and municipal governments to revitalize Toronto's eastern waterfront. This includes a flood protection landform completed in 2012 to protect 210 hectares (519 acres) in the West Don Lands neighbourhood and eastern downtown Toronto.

Related Product

• Governments of Canada, Ontario and Toronto announce funding to protect and transform Toronto’s Port Lands