Toronto has commenced tunneling on its new subway route, the Ontario Line, which will feature 15 stops between Exhibition Place west of downtown and the former Ontario Science Centre site in North York. The project spans over 15 kilometers, with more than half of the line running underground.
Project Overview
The Ontario Line is a joint venture between the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the provincial transit agency Metrolinx. According to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the line will create 40 new connections to existing transit routes, bring nearly 230,000 people closer to transit, and support 4,700 new jobs in Ontario.
Ford called the start of tunneling a historic milestone, stating in a press release: "Once complete, the Ontario Line will help cut travel times for commuters across Toronto by 40 minutes."
Timeline
When first announced in 2019, Metrolinx estimated completion by 2027. However, the agency now refrains from setting a firm date. Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay said in February that civil infrastructure is trending toward completion in the early 2030s, after which the line will require testing.
Cost
The initial proposal estimated the cost under $11 billion. By May 2021, the total investment for four major GTA transit projects—including the Scarborough extension, Eglinton Crosstown, Ontario Line, and Yonge North extension—was $26.8 billion. Metrolinx declined to provide an updated cost for the Ontario Line alone, but a senior government source told Global News in 2024 that the project's cost had risen to $27.2 billion. The federal government is contributing over $4 billion.
Construction Impact on Traffic
Construction will cause both planned and unplanned road closures on major streets and highways. Metrolinx Chief Capital Officer Andrew Hope noted in February that the route has already led to a two-lane closure on the Gardiner Expressway. The line includes three bridges over the Don River, and Metrolinx CEO Lindsay warned that construction could shut down the Don Valley Parkway. "These are formidable works," he said. "We are building the Bloor viaduct again three times for this project."
Starting Sunday, lanes and sidewalks along the west side of Don Mills Road between Eglinton Avenue East and St. Dennis Drive will close for about five weeks to build a new temporary platform. The intersection at Don Mills Road and Gateway Boulevard will be particularly affected through May as construction begins on a new station.
