Toronto's new elevated subway with wild skyline views is progressing fast
Despite its designation as a subway line, much of Toronto's new Ontario Line will actually be above ground — and in some cases, surprisingly high above ground.
Elevated transit is suddenly becoming a thing in Toronto, and hot on the heels of an elevated GO Transit spur through the city and the new elevated portion of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, the Ontario Line is bringing the next major elevated train route to town.
Roughly three kilometres of elevated guideway will carry trains along the northwestern portion of the 15.6-kilometre route between Exhibition Place and the Don Mills and Eglinton intersection.
This portion of the route, along with a roughly half-kilometre bridge flying high above the Don Valley, continues to progress ahead of the $27 billion line's vague early 2030s opening timeline.
Metrolinx has shared an update on three elevated stations, their connecting guideway, and the maintenance and storage facility along the Ontario Line's northwest terminal stretch, and it won't be long before above-ground infrastructure really begins to take shape.
Thorncliffe Park Station
Piling work for the elevated guideway is now over halfway complete as construction begins for the above-ground piers that will support the trackbed above.
Operations, Maintenance and Storage Facility
Following demolition work, a massive 115-metre maintenance pit has been excavated near Overlea Boulevard, and crews have begun work on the facility's train wash and maintenance buildings.
Flemingdon Park Station
Sixteen of the piles for the future elevated guideway have been installed, paving the way for work on foundations and the guideway itself.
Don Valley Station
With 13 guideway piles complete and 10 guideway piers now in place, above-grade construction is quickly ramping up for the northern terminal station on the Ontario line.
Don Valley Crossing Bridge
Trains will access this elevated stretch via a high-level bridge over the Don Valley, emerging from a tunnelled section to the south via a portal at Minton Place.
At a height of approximately 30 metres above the valley floor, the bridge, along with the elevated guideway to the north, will offer commanding views of the Toronto skyline — a feature Metrolinx is now boasting about on social media.
Metrolinx
