Ontario Line tunnelling starts beneath downtown Toronto

The Ontario Line subway project has entered a new construction stage in Toronto. Tunnelling is now under way on the downtown section. Premier Doug Ford announced the start on Thursday. He called it the first subway tunnelling downtown in more than 60 years. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Downtown Toronto tunnelling route

Ford made the announcement at Exhibition Place. He was joined by Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria. Toronto MP Evan Solomon and Mayor Olivia Chow were also there. He said two tunnel boring machines will dig Ontario Line twin tunnels stretching six kilometres. The route runs from a launch shaft near Exhibition Station to the lower Don River area. It forms the central part of the downtown Toronto tunnelling programme.

Also, the tunnel section will reach depths of as much as 40 metres below ground. Work will start at Exhibition Station. It will continue toward the Don Yard near the Don Valley Parkway and Lakeshore Boulevard. There, Ontario Line trains will shift from underground running. They will continue aboveground over the Lower Don Bridge. In other words, the tunnels cover the downtown stretch. The line then continues above ground near the lower Don River.

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Ontario Line subway project cost and timeline

The project was first announced in 2019. It is aimed at completion by 2031. Meanwhile, Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay said the opening is targeted for the early 2030s. He also noted that tunnelling marks a significant step forward. Still, he said it does not mean construction overall is complete. In addition, the total projected cost has risen to $29.5 billion. The original estimate was $10.9 billion. Also, the federal government is contributing $4 billion.

When completed, the 15-stop line will run from Eglinton and Don Mills to Exhibition Place. It is planned to connect with TTC Lines 1, 2 and 5. It will also link with Lakeshore West, Lakeshore East and Stouffville GO services. Separately, Metrolinx says the line is expected to carry about 400,000 passengers a day. At the same time, Toronto transit congestion relief could include reductions of up to 15 percent. That would be on the busiest stretch of Line 1 between Bloor-Yonge and Wellesley stations.

Ontario Line station names and development plans

Metrolinx has also introduced revised Ontario Line station names. They are intended to better reflect Toronto’s neighbourhoods. King-Bathurst will become King West. Queen-Spadina will be renamed Chinatown. Corktown will be changed to Distillery District. Riverside-Leslieville will become Leslieville.

New artist renderings of the future stations were also released. They show low-rise station buildings without housing above them. Asked about the lack of residential development, Ford said homes should be included. At the same time, the Ontario Line is also being presented as a transit solution. It is also being presented as a catalyst for urban development. The government estimates that 15,000 homes will be created along the corridor.

Station excavation has already been under way for several years. Current updates show this work is finished at King West, Moss Park and Distillery District. Meanwhile, Chinatown is close to that stage. These developments reflect a significant investment in Toronto’s transit future. They are aimed at transforming urban mobility for residents and visitors alike.

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