Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx announced on March 10 that they have issued two Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) for advance tunnelling work on the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension—the first phases of work for the two transit projects.

The Scarborough Subway Extension is an approximate eight-kilometre extension of Line 2 from Kennedy Station to McCowan Road/Sheppard Avenue.

The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is a 9.2-kilometre extension of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (future TTC Line 5). The extension will run mostly underground, westward from the future Mount Dennis station to Renforth Drive. IO and Metrolinx are also studying a possible future connection to Toronto Pearson International Airport.

In the interest of expediting work on the projects, the purchasers opted to proceed with the tunneling portions of the projects first. Separate contracts will follow for the balance of the work on each project, which includes building the stations, fitting-out the tunnels and installing and commissioning the systems.

Both RFQs call for tunnelling works, as well as design and construction of launch and extraction shafts, tunnels; headwalls for emergency exit buildings stations; supply of tunnel boring machines; installing segmental precast concrete tunnel liners, and performing other activities necessary to build the tunnels, including utility relocations, supports for shaft and headwalls, temporary power supply, lighting, ventilation and drainage.

After evaluating the RFQ submissions, IO and Metrolinx will invite shortlisted teams to respond to detailed request for proposals. That call is expected to come in the summer.

The Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension are two of four priority transit projects announced by the province in 2019 for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The other two projects include the Ontario Line project and the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Planning is now underway for all four projects, with the Ontario Line scheduled to be the first in service as early as 2027.