Metrolinx is revisiting the idea to close a portion of the northbound Allen Expressway after announcing last year that it would not close. The provincial transit agency is attempting to ease congestion caused from the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit line.

“We are currently looking at alternatives to help ease congestion on Eglinton,” said communications specialist Anne Marie Aikins.

According to Aikins, ongoing construction on Eglinton Avenue has caused a large number of inconveniences for residents and merchants.

“We know that traffic management on Eglinton has been dire over the past year,” she said. “It’s great news that they’re going to get transit, but [the neighbourhood] is experiencing difficulties.”

City of Toronto’s director of transportation, John Mende, first asked Metrolinx to look into alternatives in order to keep the Allen open more than a year ago.

“I can’t recall a similar closing of such a major facility for such a long period of time,” said Mende.

Local merchants are also not fond of the idea. Dr. Alan Pintaric, of D.C. Solutions, said that the Upper Village BIA stands opposed. “I think businesses would just fall apart here,” he said. He fears that the closure of the Allen’s northbound lanes will result in traffic spilling over onto already-crowded streets. “Bathurst would be crazy, Avenue Road would be a mess. I think it would just make more congestion,” he said.

However, Pintaric is hopeful that Metrolinx will make the decision to not close the arterial road. “I believe they’ll listen to us,” he said.

Councillor Josh Colle, whose ward contains many of the affected intersections, has been actively involved in meeting with Metrolinx over the issue.

“Yes, there are benefits to the construction timeline. I just don’t believe the assessment has been done on the impact on the other arterials,” said Colle. “The Allen is crowded enough as it is, and then Bathurst, Dufferin and Marlee.… I don’t know how it would work.”