Construction of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is well underway as crews began the tunnel boring process on Monday. This step, the Province says, marks a key milestone for the seven-stop extension of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
“Our government is getting it done and delivering the largest subway expansion in Canadian history,” said Premier Doug Ford. “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.”
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT may not be finished yet, but the Province is already digging out over 6 km of tunnels along Eglinton Avenue West for the extension. Two tunnel boring machines will run from the launch site at Renforth Drive and go west to Scarlett Road to carve out the underground section of the extension.
“The start of tunnelling marks an important milestone for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project, which will provide more Canadians with an efficient and affordable way to get to work, school, and access essential services,” said Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Dominic LeBlanc. “The Government of Canada is proud to work closely with the Province of Ontario to make transformational investments in the Toronto transit system that create jobs, grow the economy, and build inclusive communities.”
Although the underground portion will comprise most of the extension, elevated above-ground tracks will be used to pass over the Humber River in Etobicoke before going back underground again to connect to Mount Dennis station -- the westernmost station on the current Eglinton Crosstown LRT route. Once complete, the extension will add on another 9.2 km to the LRT line, connecting Scarborough to Mississauga along one continuous route.
“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 Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney.
The extension's six stations will be located at Jane Street, Scarlett Road, Royal York Road, Islington Avenue, Kipling Avenue, Martin Grove Road, and Renforth Drive. But they may not be the only ones. Future plans call for an additional 4.7-km extension between Renforth Drive and Pearson Airport that could have up to three more stations added to the line.
Construction on the extension will support as many as 4,600 jobs annually, the province says, with the completed line expected to attract 37,000 boardings daily by 2041.
