Instead, Craft, who moved to Hammertown two years ago to escape the city’s gridlock, found himself stuck in a massive traffic jam on Lake Shore Boulevard, just west of Jarvis Street.
“He was hit.  We couldn’t even move,” he told CP24.com.
“I actually locked my car a few times because nobody was going anywhere.”
Craft was one of dozens of frustrated motorists stuck at a standstill along the 500m stretch, which has been reduced from four to one lane due to construction.  He said some motorists, especially those in trucks, got so tired of waiting that they drove over the median and U-turned, while others cut through a blocked construction lane to move.
Craft, who said he had no warning that traffic would be so bad on the lakefront, didn’t get home last night from work until 6:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, the City of Toronto issued a traffic advisory urging drivers to avoid traveling on westbound Lake Shore Boulevard between Cherry and Yonge streets due to the replacement of a 4.5 kilometer Enbridge Gas pipeline.

	Construction reduced Lake Shore Blvd West to one lane between Yonge and York Sts.  creating significant congestion.  All lanes are expected to reopen Thursday night.  We apologize for the inconvenience.  #TrafficAlertTO @citynews680 @TorontoPolice @cityoftoronto
— Enbridge Gas (@enbridgegas) November 16, 2022
The 24/7 roadwork, which has resulted in sections along that stretch being reduced to one lane, is “creating congestion in and around the area,” the city said in its Nov. 16 traffic alert.
Construction on Lake Shore from Yonge to Bay streets is expected to wrap up Thursday by the end of the day, while work planned for Lake Shore Boulevard west, between Cherry and Parliament streets, likely won’t happen until mid-December .
“With so much construction taking place in the downtown core, drivers are advised to plan their trip in advance, expect delays or consider using public transit,” the city said.
CP24.com has reached out to Toronto Mayor John Tory’s office for further comment on the situation, but we have yet to hear back.