Excavation has started for the TBM launch site for Toronto’s new Ontario Line.
A 16m-deep shaft near Exhibition Station will become the starting point for two TBMs that will dig approximately 6km-long twin tunnels — the first subway tunnel project to start in downtown Toronto in more than 60 years.
The twin tunnels will run from east of Exhibition Station to west of the Don River. Following tunnelling, the launch shaft will become the portal where Ontario Line trains will transition, travelling east, from above to below ground.
When complete, the Ontario Line will be a 15.6km subway that will bring 227,500 more people in Toronto within walking distance to transit. More than half the route will be underground.
In November 2022 Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx awarded the C$6bn fixed-price contract to Ontario Transit Group for the design, build and finance the Ontario Line Southern Civil, Stations and Tunnel (South Civil) package. Ontario Transit Group comprises Ferrovial Construction Canada, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Aecom Canada Ltd, Cowi North America Ltd, GHD Ltd, Sener Group, Janin Atlas Inc, and Agentis Capital.
As well as the twin tunnels, the public-private partnership contract includes four new underground stations, integration of two underground stations with existing subway stations, and one above-ground station to be integrated with the existing GO Transit Exhibition Station.
