Eglinton Crosstown West Extension

The target completion date for the project is 2030-31.

Dividing the project into smaller contracts will help make sure there is capacity in the market to quickly and efficiently deliver the required work.

We will work with closely with our contractors to minimize any disruptions to communities during construction and operations.

During construction, we’ll continuously monitor noise levels and use tools like equipment silencers and temporary noise barriers to keep things as quiet as possible. We will ensure noisy activities occur during daytime whenever possible and plan vehicle access routes that will minimize on-site movement and avoid travel on residential streets. Communities will be notified well in advance of any upcoming construction work.

We’ve also set up a 24-hour phone line where people can reach out if they have any questions or concerns about the project. Our dedicated community relations team is available at 416-202-8001, through email at EglintonWest@metrolinx.com or in-person at our community office at 326 Scarlett Road.

The tunnel boring machines (TBMs) will tunnel approximately 10 to 15 metres per day, so the work is continuously moving forward and won’t stay in a particular place for too long. They will also be approximately 15 to 20 metres below the surface, so any noise and vibrations will be minimal.

The machines for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension are “earth pressure balance” TBMs. This means the pressure inside the machine adjusts to match the pressure of the earth outside of it, which prevents any ground settlement from occurring.

We are using design and construction methods that will keep noise and vibration levels low and within approved levels. Noise and vibration levels will also be continuously monitored throughout tunnelling to ensure we have the right solutions in place throughout the course of the project.

We’ve also set up a 24/7 phone line where people can reach out if they have any questions or concerns about the project. Our dedicated community relations team is available at 416-202-8001, through email at EglintonWest@metrolinx.com, or in-person at our community office at 326 Scarlett Road.

We’re committed to ensuring local businesses remain accessible and successful throughout this important project.

We’ll work with the business community to provide customized supports, from making sure store fronts are clear and easy to access, to working together on promotions and shop-local incentives, to helping them relocate to other nearby locations if their properties are needed to support construction.

At our community office, community engagement staff are available during business hours to answer questions, provide updates and help support local businesses and organizations through construction.

During major construction, Metrolinx offers a 24-hour hotline that gives the community direct access to someone who will listen to their concerns and help address any issues.

This will be an ongoing process, and we are committed to keeping an open, two-way dialogue going so we can continuously strengthen and improve our supports for local businesses.

In a built-up and growing region, some trees need to be removed to make room for new transit lines. To offset these removals, Metrolinx follows a detailed, science-based plan for planting new trees and keeping the region green. Overall, our practice is to plant more trees than we remove as we build new transit and we work closely with contractors to incentivize them to only take what is required. Our goal is always to keep the number of trees we remove to a minimum and we strive to replace them in areas where they are being removed as early as we can.

Read more about our Vegetation Management and Tree Compensation Program.

Transit projects often feature a mix of surface, elevated and underground elements.

Which approach is used depends on a number of factors, including existing environmental and topographical conditions, ease of construction and operations, integration with other transit, and community impacts.

The Humber River passes through the area around Eglinton Avenue West between Scarlett Road and Jane Street, and is an identified flood plain zone that has experienced historic levels of flooding with Hurricane Hazel in 1954 and more recently during the Toronto flood of 2013. The higher risk of flooding around the Humber River poses unique challenges to building underground infrastructure in the area.

Excavations for underground stations at Scarlett-Eglinton and Jane-Eglinton would have needed to be up to 30 metres deep, which is as deep as a nine-storey building is tall. This would have been more complex, more time-consuming and more disruptive for the community in comparison to an elevated option.

The potential for flooding would also have posed operational risks for underground stations and tunnels once the line is running and could impact the reliability of the service.

In the event of a flood, major damage to the line would occur and extensive repairs would be required.

Read more about the elevated guideway.

Stations are being designed with communities in mind, using a set of guidelines that will make sure they are attractive and fit into the areas they will serve. We’ll be looking for opportunities throughout the planning and design process to get public feedback on certain design elements.

Certain names currently assigned to the stations are placeholders during early planning phases, and we will seek community feedback on appropriate alternatives. We will work with communities to select station names that are clear and representative of the neighbourhoods they will serve. We’ll share more details on those opportunities in the future.

The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will provide a seamless travel experience for customers. It will run as part of the existing TTC network, on a TTC fare. As they do today, people will pay with PRESTO.

The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will connect seamlessly with the Eglinton Crosstown. There will be no need to transfer as you travel along the corridor.