Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 30) - alongside Mayor John Tory - says construction will soon begin on a new section of the Martin Goodman Trail through the Port Lands, as a way of safely connecting cyclist and foot traffic from the Leslie Street Spit to Cherry Beach.
Currently, cyclists in the Port Lands have to use Unwin Avenue to get from one area to the other. Unwin is frequented by large trucks and can be dangerous, especially for younger or lesser-experienced cyclists.
"I think people will be happy and I'm very happy as I read the material about this," Tory said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. "It is being done in a very respectful way - respectful of the fact that this is an environmentally sensitive area, that it is a very special area that we've created."
"People are going to be safe, but the environment is also going to be safe."
The Leslie Street Spit is home to Tommy Thompson Park, a man-made habitat jutting into Lake Ontario that is home to over 700 species of plants and animals.
Tory says the work will begin in mid-July and should be completed by November.
This will be the final link of the 20 kilometre cycling and walking trail along the waterfront.