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Traffic congestion, combined with Metrolinx’s signs and messaging, are already prompting motorists to avoid Eglinton near Allen, which has only one lane moving in each direction, said spokesman Jamie Robinson. East-west traffic is down as much as 60 per cent — from 36,000 vehicles to about 20,000 a day — said Metrolinx spokesman Jamie Robinson. North and southbound Allen traffic has also declined between 10 and 40 per cent.

Crews have been working since early this year near the West subway station, building shafts to extract and relaunch the giant tunnel boring machines that are burrowing east toward Yonge St. The machines have to be lifted out of the ground on the west side and relaunched on the east so as not to interfere with the existing TTC station.

There will still be significant congestion once the tunneling begins in that area next year. That’s when 150 trucks a day will move through the Eglinton-Allen intersection, removing soil from the tunnel, Robinson said.

Closing the Allen to Lawrence would mean forcing 1,300 vehicles to seek alternative routes during the morning and afternoon rush, and closing the expressway all the way to Highway 401 would mean diverting an additional 2,000 motorists.

An Allen closure in combination with city plans to resurface Dufferin St. next year would also present a significant burden on Marlee Ave., Bathurst St. and Avenue Rd.