The area in Downtown Toronto that includes Front Street, University Avenue, Yonge Street, and Queen Street is often referred to as
Canada’s Financial Centre. The
Gardiner Expressway, an elevated highway, runs through this financial district and across Lake Ontario’s waterfront.
Because this highway is elevated above ground level, it creates a physical separation between the city and Lake Ontario. At times, it is criticized for devaluing a highly significant and valuable part of the city. To an extent, that criticism is valid. Originally, the expressway began further east at Leslie Street. Now, it starts at the Don Valley Parkway. The section from Leslie Street to the Don Valley Parkway has already been removed and redeveloped.
Some politicians occasionally propose that the entire Gardiner Expressway should be dismantled and rebuilt as an underground route, suggesting that such a transformation would be beneficial.
That being said, I personally enjoy traveling on this highway, especially at night when traffic has lessened and a calm atmosphere prevails. Similarly, I like traveling during early morning or dusk hours when traffic is light. The main reason is that the elevated nature of the expressway, running long and high through towering buildings, gives the exhilarating feeling of flying through the air.
The photograph shown here was taken by me while I was a passenger in writer Kadalputhiran’s vehicle. What you see in the image are the buildings of Toronto’s Financial District. Though they may appear tilted, they are not leaning towers. That’s simply an effect caused by the angle from which the photo was taken using an iPhone camera.
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