City of Toronto – Gardiner Expressway Phase 2

Gardiner Expressway Phase 2

City of Toronto

PROJECT DETAILS
System: Freedom Chemical Guardian-BD™
Completion Date: October 2025
New Construction or Renovation: Renovation

PROJECT TEAM
Client: City of Toronto
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Sub-Contractor: Bridge Tite Group
Engineer/Specifier/Consultant: City of Toronto Infrastructure & Transportation Services

PRODUCT DETAILS
FT-6056 Urethane Primer – Fast-cure urethane primer providing superior adhesion to prepared concrete substrates and promoting a strong interlayer bond for subsequent polyurea membranes.
FT-2202 BMW (Bridge Membrane Waterproofing) – Rapid-curing spray-applied polyurea membrane delivering seamless, long-life waterproofing protection against chlorides and moisture ingress.
FT-2216 SS (Slow Set) – Reinforced structural polyurea coating formulated for extreme impact resistance and dimensional stability, installed with a trap-rock broadcast for enhanced traction and durability.

SOLUTION
The Gardiner Expressway Phase 2 Rehabilitation forms part of Toronto’s long-term initiative to modernize its aging expressway structure and improve durability under severe weather and de-icing conditions. The project demanded a high-performance waterproofing and protective surfacing system capable of withstanding heavy traffic loads and rapid installation windows.

Freedom’s Guardian-BD™ system delivered the performance, adhesion, and speed required for this critical infrastructure rehabilitation. The system integrates:

• FT-6056 Urethane Primer for fast-cure priming and superior adhesion,
• FT-2202 Polyurea Membrane for flexible, seamless waterproofing, and
• FT-2216 SS with Trap-Rock Broadcast for surface durability and non-slip protection.

The system was spray-applied across multiple bridge spans, creating a monolithic, fully bonded, and resilient waterproof barrier designed for long-term performance under freeze–thaw cycles and chloride exposure.

Key Advantages:
• Seamless, elastomeric protection preventing moisture and chloride ingress.
• Rapid cure and return-to-service (RTS) within hours, minimizing lane closures.
• Trap-rock broadcast enhances abrasion resistance and skid safety.
• Designed for the thermal and dynamic stresses of bridge-deck environments.

CHALLENGE
Rehabilitation of the Gardiner Expressway posed numerous challenges—restricted construction zones, variable surface conditions, and tight scheduling within a live traffic corridor. The waterproofing system needed to cure rapidly, tolerate cooler and humid conditions, and deliver decades of service life.

Freedom’s Guardian-BD™ system provided a reliable solution by combining:
• Fast, Spray-Applied Installation to meet critical time windows.
• Cold and Damp Surface Compatibility for uninterrupted application.
• Durable, High-Friction Surface Finish with the FT-2216 SS trap-rock layer.
• Long-Term Structural Protection under heavy dynamic loads and de-icing salts.

Gallery

The FreedomTuff® product line is a revelation of what Polyureas, Polyurethanes, Polyaspartics and Epoxies are about. When so many products have been “made” for maximum impact, at Freedom® Chemical Corporation we’ve been content to let our products speak quietly. No need to shout when you have something special to say.