Metrolinx has begun groundwork on four new stations for the Ontario Line in the eastern part of Toronto, marking further progress on the planned new metro route.
Crews have commenced work on three stations — Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park and Don Valley — which will sit along an elevated stretch of track currently under construction. Further south, excavation has also begun at the underground Cosburn station.
Construction on Don Valley station
© Metrolinx
The elevated guideway section will extend for almost three kilometres across the east end. It is set to run from Overlea Boulevard in Thorncliffe Park, linking with Thorncliffe Park station before continuing north along Don Mills Road to Flemingdon Park and Don Valley stations. At Don Valley, the line will connect with the Line 5 Eglinton.
The guideway will be a prominent structural element of the new route. It will connect to tunnels being built beneath Pape Avenue, which are intended to serve Cosburn and Pape stations. At Pape, excavation is underway to reach the existing interchange, with around 24,000 cubic metres of soil (about one fifth of the required amount) already removed.
Meanwhile, bridge construction is continuing at crossings over the West Don, Don Valley and Lower Don, while upgrades to existing rail bridges are taking place in the Riverside and Leslieville areas.
Elsewhere on the line, station excavation has either started or finished at downtown locations between Corktown and Exhibition. Crews have begun installing permanent structural elements, including concrete and steel.
At Exhibition, preparations are underway to launch two tunnel boring machines, known as Libby and Corkie, later this year. Work is also progressing on a second launch shaft near Gerrard Street, where two additional machines are expected to start excavating northern tunnels.
The Ontario Line is intended to provide a new rapid transit connection across the city. Project information indicates that journeys between Thorncliffe Park and the downtown area could be reduced from around 40 minutes to approximately 25 minutes once the line is operational. The route is also planned to connect with more than 40 existing and future transit services.