cost of $1.475 billion Remove the Lake Shore Boulevard roadway underneath the elevated section and construct buildings at a cost of $65 million Removing the Gardiner east of Spadina, and expanding Lake Shore Boulevard at a cost of $758 million. This was the TWRC's recommended option. An overview of the recommended changes: retain elevated portions from west of Dufferin Street to Spadina Avenue extend Front Street west of Bathurst to connect with the Gardiner west of Strachan Avenue. add new on/off ramps to connect with Front Street extension replace elevated portion from Spadina Avenue to Simcoe Street with two five-lane roadway (Lake Shore Blvd) separated by landscaped median replace elevated portion from Simcoe Street to Jarvis Street with two five-lane roadway (Lake Shore Blvd) separated by city block replace elevated portion from Jarvis Street to Don River with two four-lane roadway (Lake Shore Blvd) separated by landscaped median relocate Don River channel and re-build new ramps onto the Don Valley Parkway with surface roadway (Lake Shore Blvd) Councillor Jane Pitfield, who was running for Mayor, criticized the proposal, stating that "From the canvassing I have done all over the city, the majority of people say they want the Gardiner to stay where it is." Suburban councillors Gloria Lindsay Luby and Doug Holyday came out opposed while inner-city councillor Kyle Rae fought for the proposal. Mayor David Miller did not favour the proposal either, stating that there were other, higher priorities. The proposal did not come to Council for discussion and vote. Replacement proposals In 1996, the Crombie-led Waterfront Trust asked the builders (Canadian Highways International Corp) of the Highway 407 toll road to investigate replacing the Gardiner. The Corporation proposed a tunnel to replace the elevated section from Dufferin to Yonge Street at a cost of $1 billion. City staff pointed out that the tunnel would have to avoid several obstacles, including: storm sewers just west of Fort York and under Portland Street; a high-voltage electrical line under Strachan Avenue; a filtered water intake to the John Street pumping station; a streetcar line running under lower Bay Street; a streetcar loop on the north side of the Exhibition Grounds; and the Don River The proposal planned to put tolls on the new roadway to pay for the cost of building it and to reduce the traffic but it refused (2017 update). Unsolicited proposals are made regularly by citizens, agencies and