Tunneling work starts on Eglinton subway extension
Construction crews have started tunneling operations for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, marking a key milestone for the project.
Premier Doug Ford was among those on hand to recognize the occasion.
“Our government is getting it done and delivering the largest subway expansion in Canadian history,” he said. “We are getting shovels in the ground for this historic project and building world-class transit that will make life easier for the people of the GTA, while supporting the creation of thousands of jobs and spurring economic growth for decades to come.”
Two tunnel boring machines at the Renforth launch shaft site will dig the over six-kilometre twin tunnels underground along Eglinton Avenue West, forming the underground section for the extension between Renforth Drive and Scarlett Road. Each machine is 6.7 metres in diameter. They will operate at a depth of approximately 20 metres, and can tunnel 75 metres per week and remove 500 cubic metres of earth each day.
The project will extend the future Eglinton Crosstown LRT service another 9.2 kilometres, creating a continuous rapid transit line along Eglinton Avenue from Scarborough into Mississauga and Etobicoke.
The extension will support as many as 4,600 jobs annually during construction and attract 37,000 daily boardings by 2041.
In July 2021, the West End Connectors consortium, which includes Aecon, Dragados Canada Inc. and Ghella, broke ground at the Renforth launch shaft site for the arrival of the tunnel boring machines in December.
Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025.
“By building more kilometres of new subway service to extend the existing Eglinton Crosstown LRT, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will make a significant difference for the people of Etobicoke and Mississauga that depend on transit to get to and from work and other key destinations,” said Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney.
Ontario’s transit plan for the Greater Toronto Area includes a commitment of nearly $17 billion from the province for construction. The Government of Canada has also agreed to contribute $10 billion to the region’s four priority subway projects.