If you’re already making plans to hop on the Lakeshore East line this weekend, we’re going to have to stop – or at least reroute – you, right there.

Metrolinx will shut down the entire corridor on Oct. 26-27 for most rail traffic, in order to complete several important infrastructure upgrades.

The transit agency is taking advantage of a rare full closure to complete multiple essential projects at once. This strategy will help to avoid dragging out the work and the inconvenience to customers over a much longer period of time

While Metrolinx News recently outlined some of the big upgrade projects planned during the rare pause (scroll down for a link to that story), we thought we’d dive in a bit deeper with a video, to help explain it all.

Though an important note, because we are unyielding when it comes to matters of safety, the interview included in this video was done at the end of a platform, behind and respecting the yellow line.

This is also a good time to remind customers that we care about your safety, and you should too. Please, always stay well behind the yellow line at all times when on the platform.

And here’s a reminder on how to get around

For those planning to head downtown on the weekend, and who are coming from the Durham Region stations (Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax or Pickering), Route 90B GO buses will be running between these stations and the Union Station Bus Terminal.

Lakeshore West customers won’t be impacted, but if they plan on heading east past Union Station to any of the Durham Region stations, they too will have to take the Route 90B bus from Union Station Bus Terminal.

In all cases, customers using PRESTO need to tap on the device when boarding and exiting the GO bus.

Those travelling between Rouge Hill and Union can also take the TTC as an alternative way for their weekend commute.

Working towards a better commute

The work carried out this weekend will stretch across almost 50 kilometres and will vary. It includes upgrades that will add two decades onto the lifespan of a major bridge as well as signal upgrades and station improvements, just to name a few. All this will improve safety and ensure a better, smoother commute.

When all is said and done, at least five projects will be completed over the weekend. You can learn about the projects happening here

For more information about your commute this weekend, head over to this GO site or sign up for our On the GO email or text alerts. You can also follow the Lakeshore East line on Twitter @GOtransitLE.

In the end, the work this weekend will result in several benefits to Lakeshore East passengers and neighbouring communities for years to come – it’s short term pain, for long term gain.