"We are making considerable progress on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line," said Steven Del Duca, minister of transportation. "The start of construction of the Keelesdale station is an important milestone and further proof of our government’s commitment to provide accessible, modern transit infrastructure that will reduce commute times, create jobs and improve the quality of life for Ontarians."
Keelesdale Station is one of the underground stations on the 19km line, and located at the intersection of Keele Street, Trethewey Drive, and Eglinton Avenue West.
A total of four TBMs are employed on the project, which requires 5.75m diameter tunnels.
Crosstown Transit Constructors, a joint venture of Obayashi Canada, Kenny Construction, Kenaidan Contracting and Technicore Underground, won the contract to build the 6.2km tunnel in 2012. A second contract, awarded to an Aecon-Dragados Joint Venture, are constructing approximately 3.25km of twin tunnels using the other two TBMs.
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is the largest public transit project currently under construction in Canada and represents the single biggest expansion of urban rapid transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area in more than half a century, according to the Province. Premier Kathleen Wynne attended the ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the station groundbreaking. The province has invested CAD 5.3bn toward the capital costs of the LRT line, which is expected to begin service in 2021.
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario are working together to deliver the Crosstown, which will remain publicly owned and controlled.
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. The Crosstown project costs approximately CAD 5.3bn (USD 4.25bn) in 2010 dollars.
"We are excited to move into this next phase of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project – building the stations and stops, track and signal infrastructure and maintenance and storage facility to support the line," said Bruce McCuaig, president and CEO, Metrolinx.
"The Crosstown is one of Metrolinx’s key projects that will transform the way Toronto and the region moves with a fast, convenient and integrated transit network."
