Starting as early as March 23, 2026, Beth Nealson Drive will be fully closed between Wicksteed Avenue and Pat Moore Drive for approximately two years. This closure is required to build a new underpass that will allow cars, cyclists and pedestrians to move safely below Ontario Line trains that will travel overhead at ground level. 

During construction, vehicles, buses, cyclists and pedestrians will not be able to access this stretch of Beth Nealson Drive.

Why a full closure of Beth Nealson is required 

A full closure of Beth Nealson Drive is required to provide enough space for all the work that needs to take place. The entire road needs to be dug up and rebuilt, including relocating major utilities like gas, water, sewer and hydro and introducing new bike lanes on both sides of the road.   

Why didn’t you route the Ontario Line over or under the road?

The Ontario Line needs to remain at ground level in this area so trains can quickly and easily enter and exit the nearby operations, maintenance and storage facility – the operational nerve centre of the Ontario Line where trains will be cleaned, repaired and stored for daily service. If the track was built above or below Beth Nealson Drive, subway trains would face too steep of an approach to the facility, ultimately impacting the speed and reliability of overall service.

A shared rail crossing would require cars, cyclists and pedestrians to stop every time a train passes. With Ontario Line trains running as often as every 90 seconds during rush hour, this would create frequent disruptions and traffic congestion for the community.

Keeping people moving during the closure 

We know Beth Nealson Drive is an important connection for people who live, work and travel through Thorncliffe Park and this closure will require adjustments to daily routines. 

During construction, vehicles, buses, cyclists and pedestrians will not be able to use Beth Nealson Drive between Wicksteed Avenue and Pat Moore Drive. Clear signage will be installed in advance of the closure to guide drivers, transit users, cyclists and pedestrians around the work zone and help maintain access to local destinations. 

TTC bus routes on Beth Nealson Drive will be detoured because of the closure. Riders are encouraged to visit the TTC website for the latest route updates. 

Metrolinx is working closely with the City of Toronto, TTC and Toronto Emergency Services to coordinate traffic, transit and emergency access routes so people can continue to move safely through the area. 

What this means for the future

The Ontario Line will transform how people in Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park travel across the city, delivering faster, more reliable subway service that connects the east end to downtown in under 30 minutes.

The future Thorncliffe Park Station and Flemingdon Park Station will bring more than 22,000 residents within walking distance of a subway station for the first time, connecting the community to more than 40 subway, bus, streetcar and GO services across the region.

Once complete, the Ontario Line will add 15 new stations and 15.6 kilometres of new subway service, bringing nearly 230,000 more people within walking distance of rapid transit across Toronto.

What’s next

Residents and businesses in Thorncliffe Park will receive updates through construction notices, community meetings and online channels as major milestones are reached.

For more updates on Ontario Line progress, follow @OntarioLine on social media, sign up for the Ontario Line newsletter or connect with us in person at the Ontario Line community office at the East York Town Centre (45 Overlea Boulevard, Unit 153).

We appreciate the community’s patience as this important work moves forward, and we will continue to share updates as the work progresses.