Crosstown LRT tunnelling reaches Yonge Street

Tunnelling is now complete on the western segment of the 10-kilometre underground tunnel of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) line.

Today Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) Dennis and Lea, boring the western segment tunnels, arrived at Yonge Street having travelled 6,419 metres from where they started at Black Creek Drive in spring 2013. Each TBM installed 25,647 precast concrete tunnel segments, which formed 4,279 rings.

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation.

“We are making considerable progress on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line. The completion of tunnelling from the west to Yonge Street is a significant step for the project and 19 kilometres of new rapid transit for Toronto. This is further proof of our government’s commitment to provide accessible, modern transit infrastructure that will manage congestion, reduce commute times, create jobs and improve the quality of life for Ontarians,” said Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation.

New, modern light rail vehicles on tracks separated from regular traffic will offer fast, efficient service and improve travel for people across the region by up to 60 per cent faster than existing bus service. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will also help manage greenhouse gas emissions from Ontario’s transportation sector. The new LRT line will have 25 stations and stops along Eglinton Avenue between Weston Road and Kennedy Station, and will also link to 54 bus routes, three TTC interchange subway stations, and GO Transit.

Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history — about $160 billion over 12 years, which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. In 2015, the province announced support for more than 325 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life.

Eglinton Crosstown LRT is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

Quick Facts

• The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is one of the largest public transit projects currently under construction in Canada. Ontario committed $5.3 billion in capital investment to expand transit in Toronto with the Crosstown project.
• By 2031, the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is expected to carry approximately 5,500 passengers per hour during peak travel times, with daily boardings estimated to be 162,000 and an annual ridership of about 50 million.
• At the peak of construction, approximately 2,500 workers will work on the project and 90 per cent of the labour will come from the Greater Toronto Area.
• Construction on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT began in 2011 and the LRT will be in service by September 2021.
• Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario are working together to deliver the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which will remain publicly owned and controlled.
• A recent report by the Broadbent Institute and the Centre for Spatial Economics found that, on average, investing a dollar in public infrastructure in Canada raises GDP by $1.43 in the short term and up to $3.83 in the long term.