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See the Gardiner Expressway as it slowly came together from 1955-1966. See below for more photo of the Gardiner from the 2000s.

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Preparations are underway for the construction of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, October 24, 1956: Burning debris near Empress Crescent.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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Ruins reminiscent of a Second World War bombing raid mark the route of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, March 1957. Only piles of stone and foundations remain after demolition of houses on Dowling Ave. that stood in the way of the road. The expressway is currently the hub of a priority arguement with Metro Council, which is also faced with an east-west subway construction program.The Globe and Mail

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Expressway construction along Sunnyside waterfront in Toronto, February 19, 1957.Richard Cole/The Globe and Mail

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Demolition of houses at Dowling Avenue and Lakeshore Road area (centre) to make room fro Expressway construction in Toronto, February 19, 1957. Lake Shore Blvd, at right, railroad tracks at far left.Richard Cole/The Globe and Mail

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View of the Gardiner Expressway under construction in downtown Toronto, August 1961.John Young

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View of a completed section of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto which has not yet been used, September 20, 1961.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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Aerial view of the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto showing eastern extension, January 1963.Jack Mitchell/The Globe and Mail

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Exposed steel girders which form backbone of the Gardiner Expressway in place with double exit to York Street (closest) and Bay Street for traffic, May 1963. At middle, centre, Province of Ontario officer building.John DeVisser

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Four-storey concrete arches add new profile to Toronto skyline. View is from Don Bridge west in May 1963.John DeVisser

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Behind fence that cuts off view of motorists crawling along Keating St. bottleneck, workmen are reinforcing retaining wall of ship channel with steel beams to avert danger of cave-in when pile-driving begins for extension of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, May 4, 1962. Section will connect with the Don Valley Parkway.Jack Mitchell/The Globe and Mail

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From left, aerial view of the Queen Street extension, railway lines, Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Road, all crossing the Humber River, c. September 1962.The Globe and Mail

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Air view of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto under construction taken November 15, 1962.McCullagh Studio

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Although traffic uses the road overhead, ramp west of York Street is unfinished in May 1963. Construction of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto is year ahead of schedule.John DeVisser

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The Gardiner Expressway in Toronto under construction, July 16, 1963. View of the junction of the Don Valley Parkway and the expressway.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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The Gardiner Expressway in Toronto under construction, July 16, 1963. View of the junction of the Don Valley Parkway and the expressway.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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The Gardiner Expressway in Toronto under construction, July 16, 1963. View of the junction of the Don Valley Parkway and the expressway.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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Crews are busy today, July 30, 1962, finishing up work on pavement markings on the new section of the Gardiner Expressway at Spadina Ave. in Toronto. Contractor's truck starts down Spadina Ave. ramp, only exit from new section for some months.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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Painting crew of Jeff Wedemire and Wesley Baker are busy today, July 30, 1962, finishing up work on pavement markings on the new section of the Gardiner Expressway at Spadina Ave. in Toronto.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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Painting crew of Jeff Wedemire and Wesley Baker, right, are busy today, July 30, 1962, finishing up work on pavement markings on the new section of the Gardiner Expressway at Spadina Ave. in Toronto.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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Painting crew of Jeff Wedemire and Wesley Baker are busy today, July 30, 1962, finishing up work on pavement markings on the new section of the Gardiner Expressway at Spadina Ave. in Toronto.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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Construction continues on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto as it nears site where it will join the Don Valley Parkway, August 6, 1963.James Lewcun/The Globe and Mail

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Construction continues on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto as it nears site where it will join the Don Valley Parkway, August 6, 1963.James Lewcun/The Globe and Mail

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Traffic moves along a Toronto street while overhead, the east end of the Gardiner Expressway remains under construction, September 30, 1963.

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View of steel girders being put in place above Jarvis Street on the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto, November 15, 1963.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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View of steel girders being put in place above Jarvis Street on the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto, November 15, 1963.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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View of steel girders being put in place above Jarvis Street on the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto, November 15, 1963.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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View of steel girders being put in place above Jarvis Street on the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto, November 15, 1963.John Boyd/The Globe and Mail

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Views of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto under construction, May 6, 1964, with the city skyline in background.Harry McLorinan/The Globe and Mail

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Views of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto under construction, May 6, 1964, with the city skyline in background.Harry McLorinan/The Globe and Mail

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Traffic on newly opened section of the Gardiner Expressway west from Leslie Street in Toronto, July 15, 1966.Fred Ross/The Globe and Mail

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