Queen East Is Torn Up Until Mid-December. Here's How to Get Around Leslieville (and Why I'm Shopping There Anyway)

If you've tried to get along Queen Street East in Leslieville this week, you already know: the road is dug up, the streetcars are gone, and the parking spots have been swapped for pylons. Here's the short version. The TTC and the City are replacing the streetcar tracks between Leslie Street and Vancouver Avenue until at least mid-December, Queen is down to one westbound lane through that stretch, and the shops are still open. So yes, it's a mess. And yes, I'm still doing my holiday shopping there, and I hope you will too.

Here's what's happening, how to get around it, and what it means if you live on (or are thinking of selling near) this part of the east end.

What's actually going on

Work started on Monday, November 9. According to the TTC, crews are renewing the aging streetcar tracks on Queen Street East between Leslie Street and Vancouver Avenue, and they've said it will continue until at least mid-December. There's no firm end date yet.

The City told Beach Metro Community News that this couldn't wait. Their words: "broken rails and collapsed track drains." Push it off any longer and you risk a sudden failure and emergency repairs, which is a lot worse than a planned dig. The City also says the most urgent track work has been sped up so it can wrap by mid-December and then pause through the busiest part of the holiday season.

Then there's round two. The City's sanitary sewer work, from Leslie Street to Greenwood Avenue, is expected to run from January to March 2027. Details on that phase are still to come.

How to get around it

This is the part everyone's texting each other about, so here it is in plain English, based on the TTC's November 4 service notice:

• One lane only: Queen Street East is down to a single westbound lane between Vancouver Avenue and Leslie Street.
• 501/301 Queen streetcars: diverting along Gerrard Street East between Broadview Avenue and Coxwell Avenue.
• 501B/301B Queen and 503 Kingston Rd buses: eastbound buses are diverting via Eastern Avenue between Emdaabiimok Avenue and Leslie Street. Westbound buses still run along Queen.
• 31 Greenwood: diverting via Dundas Street East and Jones Avenue.
• Wheel-Trans: still available wherever local traffic is allowed.
• Parking: on-street parking along the work zone has been halted, according to Beach Metro.

Translation: if you're driving, give yourself extra time or come at it from a side street. If you're walking, it's honestly the easiest way to do Queen East right now. Check ttc.ca/service-advisories before you head out, because routes can shift as the work moves.

Why I'm still shopping on Queen East (and you should too)

Beach Metro counted about 23 stores along this strip, and some of them do a huge share of their year between now and December. One of them is East End Garden Centre at 1395 Queen Street East, near Greenwood, which sells Christmas trees this time of year. Construction in December is a tough way to start the busiest season of the year.

Both the Leslieville BIA and the TTC say businesses remain open, and the City says it will work with them on deliveries, pickups and access.

I've been helping families move in and out of these streets for a long time, and the thing people love most about Leslieville isn't the houses. It's the walk to get a coffee, pick up a tree, grab dinner and run into someone you know. Those shops are a big part of what makes this neighbourhood feel like a neighbourhood. If they have a rough December, we all feel it.

So here's my small ask. This year, buy the tree, the wreath, the hostess gift and the last-minute stocking stuffers on Queen East. Walk over. Bring a friend. Treat the pylons like part of the holiday décor. 🎄

If you live near the work zone

A few practical things for homeowners on and around this stretch:

• Expect noise and some disruption. Track work is heavy work. If you work from home on a street close to Queen, it might be a good few weeks to plan calls from the back of the house.
• Plan for parking. With street parking gone along the work zone, side streets will feel busier. A little neighbourly patience goes a long way.
• Deliveries and access. If you're having something big delivered, give the company a heads-up about the one-lane setup.

If you're thinking of selling nearby

I'll always tell you the truth, so here it is: buyers notice construction. If your home is close to the work zone, showings in the next few weeks will come with a soundtrack. That doesn't mean you can't sell. It means you plan for it.

• Be upfront. Buyers can see the road. Share the TTC's timing and phases in your listing materials so they know the work is planned and has an end point.
• Think about timing. With the track work aimed at mid-December and the sewer work expected from January to March 2027, it's worth talking through when to list and when to photograph.

The bottom line

Queen East between Leslie and Vancouver is torn up until at least mid-December, with sewer work expected to follow from January to March 2027. Getting around takes a little planning, but the shops are open and they need us more than usual this season. If you're a homeowner nearby, it's temporary. If you're selling, it's something to plan around, not panic about.

FAQ

How long will the Queen Street East track work in Leslieville last?

The TTC says track renewal between Leslie Street and Vancouver Avenue started November 9, 2026 and will continue until at least mid-December, with no firm end date yet. City sewer work from Leslie Street to Greenwood Avenue is expected to follow from January to March 2027.

Is Queen Street East closed to cars?

Not completely. Queen is down to one westbound lane between Vancouver Avenue and Leslie Street, and on-street parking in the work zone has been halted.

How do I get to Leslieville on the TTC right now?

The 501/301 Queen streetcars are diverting along Gerrard Street East between Broadview and Coxwell. Replacement 501B/301B Queen and 503 Kingston Rd buses still run on Queen westbound, while eastbound buses divert via Eastern Avenue between Emdaabiimok Avenue and Leslie Street. Check ttc.ca/service-advisories for the latest.

Are the stores on Queen East still open?

Yes. The Leslieville BIA and the TTC say businesses remain open, and the City says it will work with them on deliveries, customer pickups and access.

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If you live near the work zone and you're wondering how it might affect your plans to sell or buy this winter, send me a message. I'll give you the honest read on your situation, no pressure. And if you see me on Queen East with a Christmas tree over my shoulder, say hi. 😊

Sources

• TTC, "TTC adjusts service on Queen St E for streetcar track renewal" (November 4, 2026): https://www.ttc.ca/news/2026/November/TTC-adjusts-service-on-Queen-St-E-for-streetcar-track-renewal
• TTC, Queen Street East Track Renewal project page: https://www.ttc.ca/about-the-ttc/projects-and-plans/Queen-Street-East-Track-Renewal
• Beach Metro Community News, "Upcoming streetcar track work on Queen Street East in Leslieville has local businesses 'devastated' as holiday season begins" (November 6, 2026): https://beachmetro.com/2026/11/06/upcoming-streetcar-track-work-on-queen-street-east-in-leslieville-has-local-businesses-devastated-as-holiday-season-begins/
• TTC service advisories: https://www.ttc.ca/service-advisories