Ontario Triggers CA$1.7 Billion Hamilton Light-Rail Build With Major Civil Work Award

Ontario has awarded the first major civil and utility work package for the Hamilton light-rail line. The governments of Canada and Ontario cited the award as continued progress on the project. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The route is planned to run roughly 8.7 miles between Eastgate and McMaster. It will include 17 stops and is expected to connect up to 50,000 riders each day with jobs and housing.

Hamilton light-rail line route and work scope

The contract for the project’s first major civil and utility work package has been awarded to the Hamilton Transit Alliance. Led by Aecon Group Inc., the alliance will advance design and construction planning over the next two years.

At this stage, the work includes preparing construction schedules and carrying out preparatory activities along the route. Those activities include utility relocations, bridges, sidewalks and traffic-control systems.

Funding and project timeline

The government of Canada is contributing up to CA$1.7 billion toward the project. Ontario officials said in a press release that this is the largest federal public transit investment in Hamilton. The province is leading construction of the project through Metrolinx.

“This project will transform how people travel across downtown Hamilton, creating connections to the Hamilton Street Railway and GO Transit,” said Metrolinx President and CEO Michael Lindsay in a press release.

A firm completion timeline for the Hamilton light-rail project is not expected until 2027 or 2028.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: