More than 10 years after construction kicked off on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, Metrolinx has confirmed that the project will be delayed… again.
Construction on the very-long-awaited 19-kilometre rapid transit line commenced in 2011 and the project was initially slated for completion in 2020. But when that 2020 deadline rolled around, Metrolinx announced that the project would be delayed, citing an "unpredictable, but safe, defect" found under the TTC station box at Eglinton-Yonge station. As such, the completion date was pushed to “well into 2022.”
Concerning this most recent delay, Metrolinx is yet to release a new completion date -- or perhaps they’re erring on the side of caution this time around.
In a very vague and very brief statement issued today, Metrolinx President and CEO Phil Verster placed the onus for the delay on Crosslinx Transit Solutions -- a construction consortium established to deliver and maintain the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
“Unfortunately, while progress has been made, Crosslinx Transit Solutions have fallen behind schedule, are unable to finalize construction and testing, and therefore the system will not be operational on this timeline,” says Verster. “We had expected the Eglinton Crosstown LRT to be fully built, thoroughly tested, and in service this fall in accordance with our project agreement with Crosslinx Transit Solutions.
We know construction has been difficult for commuters, communities, and businesses along the Eglinton corridor. We are doing everything to hold Crosslinx Transit Solutions accountable and to redouble efforts to meet their commitments and complete the work quickly so we can welcome riders onto a complete, tested, and fully operational Eglinton Crosstown LRT as soon as possible.”
Although today’s statement was less comprehensive than the statement made by Metrolinx back in 2020, the sentiments now and then are pretty much the same: Unexpected challenges have come up, Crosslinx Transit Solutions is to blame, and all parties involved are doing everything they possibly can to get the Eglinton Crosstown LRT up and running as quickly as possible.
