Construction is underway to get rid of the pretzel-like junction at Dufferin Street and Queen Street West, known as the Dufferin Jog. (Muhammad Lila/CBC)

For probably as long as cars have been moving through Toronto, west-end drivers have had to put up with the Dufferin Jog — but that is about to end.

The jog which looks like a dog-leg at the junction of Queen Street West and Dufferin Street, has been a feature of — many would say irritant to — Toronto traffic for decades.

Trying to get around an existing north-south train corridor forced road builders to construct the zig-zag roadway. On Thursday, however, construction officially began to straighten out the jog and let traffic flow in a much less congested pattern through the area.

Local councillor Adam Giambrone said the $40 million project "will provide much needed infrastructure improvements for our community and benefits to the local economy."

An underpass will be built to get rid of the jog connecting Dufferin from south of Queen to Peel Avenue on the north side.

"This is a tremendous development for the residents in this area who have been waiting for this work to take place for some time," said Coun. Gord Perks.