Construction Update for June 2014
Utility relocation and headwall construction along Eglinton Avenue West between Caledonia and the Allen Road area began in March 2013. Many works along the road have been completed and other on-going works are progressing well. The Crosstown Team appreciates the patience of our neighbours while we build transit.
Where are the tunnel boring machines?
June 2014 - Dennis, the first tunnel boring machine, is tunnelling underneath Eglinton Avenue, east of Little Boulevard. Lea, the second tunnel boring machine, is under Eglinton Avenue east of Caledonia Road. Tunnel boring progress can be tracked here.
Construction Progress in the West
Headwalls are support walls for future underground stations. They are required to be in place prior to the arrival of tunnel boring machines at each of the station locations along the Eglinton Crosstown route.
What is the construction progress at Caledonia?
The east and west headwalls of the future Caledonia Station are complete. Watermain work will continue through the summer. Another traffic pattern will be set up to complete watermain work. A notice will be distributed for the new traffic pattern and a temporary water shut off affecting local businesses. The future Caledonia station will include a bus loop and a potential future GO station connected to the GO Transit Barrie line. Further updates will be provided as the work continues.
Why is there construction work at Little Boulevard?
Emergency exit buildings (EEBs) are used to evacuate passengers from tunnels in the event of an emergency. There will be an EEB on Eglinton Avenue West at Little Boulevard. The construction of an EEB includes the building of an evacuation pathway, a set of stairs from the tunnel to ground level and a small building. The scale of construction required for the EEB is similar to building a small scale underground station.
Construction of headwalls for the emergency exit is complete. Further construction of the exit corridor, shaft, stairs and structure continue on the north side of Eglinton Avenue West at Little Boulevard.
Traffic will continue to be one lane in each direction along Eglinton near the work zone. Little Boulevard will remain closed for many months. Further updates will be provided as the work continues.
What work has been done for Dufferin Station?
Utility relocation and headwall construction on the northeast and northwest sides of Eglinton Avenue West are progressing well and close to completion. Work will shift to the south side of the roadway for several months. Traffic will continue to be one lane along Eglinton in each direction near the work zone.
What about the progress at Oakwood?
Headwall construction and sewer repairs at Oakwood are complete. The jet grout plant on Times Road has been removed. All lanes of Eglinton Avenue West at Oakwood have reopened. Road restoration on Times Road is complete. Some further quality testing may be required.
What’s next at Allen along Eglinton?
Crews will shift lanes of traffic along Eglinton for the construction of the extraction shaft in the vicinity of the southbound Allen Road ramp. Traffic signals at the northbound Allen Road will be adjusted to improve northbound traffic access to the ramp and allow traffic to flow along Eglinton Avenue. A new temporary northbound Allen Road ramp will be built for use during construction to help with traffic congestion and facilitate bus operations at Eglinton West Station. This will maintain access to northbound Allen Road. A traffic study has been completed and based on the results, the closure of Allen Road will not be pursued.
Work Hours
The hours of work as permitted are between 7am and 11pm, 7 days a week. Overnight work may be required. Underground tunnelling and associated work may continue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Timelines may be adjusted due to weather and unforeseen circumstances.
The Crosstown Community Office
We understand that construction can be disruptive, and we will do our best to keep you informed. If you would like more information about this work or any other aspect of the Eglinton Crosstown project, please do not hesitate to contact us. We thank you for your continued patience as we work to build rapid transit.