Surface construction breaches Toronto subway tunnel, causing major delays

TORONTO—A contractor doing work at street level pierced the top of the concrete subway tunnel, causing major delays on Line 1 of Toronto’s subway yesterday.

Commuters boarded shuttle buses at Lawrence Station as TTC officials inspected the damage caused by street level construction. (photo: Megan Hoegler)

Service was suspended between York Mills and St. Clair stations with over 70 emergency shuttle buses operating as relief. While crowds of commuters congested Yonge Street between Lawrence and St. Clair avenues, Toronto Transit Commission officials carried out a structural inspection to assess the damage. A spokesperson for the TTC reported the line was closed until around 6 p.m. so crews could patch the hole with grout.

The puncture was unrelated to the ongoing Eglinton Crosstown construction. The TTC has not released the name of the construction company responsible for the tunnel breach.

According to the TTC’s Twitter, tunnel repairs were completed overnight and full service has resumed.