Tunneling begins for new phase of Eglinton Crosstown LRT in Toronto

The province has announced the start of tunneling work for the next phase of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT as Toronto impatiently awaits the opening of the five-year-overdue first phase of the line, planned for later this year.

The Ontario provincial government proudly announced on Tuesday that it had broken ground on the final tunnel segment for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.

A press release noted that the ground breaking marked "another significant milestone in the province's plan to deliver a new transit line from Scarborough to Mississauga." However, after six years in power, Doug Ford's administration promised much and delivered little, and Toronto residents are still locked out of the project's initial phase that was scheduled to open in 2020.

The Crosstown West Extension will add another nine kilometres and seven stations to the seemingly cursed transit line, including what will become some of the most expensive stretches of tunnel ever constructed in Canada.

According to the province, crews have already begun excavating the twin 500-metre tunnels under Eglinton Avenue West, from Jane Street to the future Mount Dennis Station.

A contract for these tunnels, awarded in 2024, generated controversy over its colossal $255 million price tag.

Despite these concerns, the province touts that the extension will put 37,500 people within ten minutes' walking distance of an LRT stop, while construction of the project will create more than 4,500 jobs.

"Premier Ford and our government have a plan to tackle gridlock and shorten commutes for drivers and public transit users in the Greater Toronto Area," said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. 

Sarkaria framed the project as part of Canada's fight against U.S. President Donald Trump, saying that as tariffs "continue to threaten Ontario workers and our economy, it has never been more important to invest in transportation infrastructure. We will do whatever it takes to protect Ontario jobs and build for the future."

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow called Tuesday's ground breaking a big step for residents of Etobicoke, York, and Midtown Toronto, saying "thousands of people will enjoy faster commutes" thanks to the extension.

Metrolinx

Interim Metrolinx  President and CEO, Michael Lindsay noted that "It's exciting to see so much progress being made on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, which will extend Line 5 Eglinton by another 9.2 kilometres, ultimately creating a rapid transit line that will run from Mississauga all the way to Scarborough, bringing thousands of people closer to transit."