NoahB
Active Member
Video of the Exhibition launch tunnel shaft uploaded today.
- Thread starter JasonParis
- Start date
Province Breaks Ground on Second Ontario Line Tunnel
Future tunnel boring machines will dig from south Riverdale to the Don Valley
August 14, 2025
Ministry of Transportation
TORONTO – The Ontario government has broken ground on the second tunnel launch shaft near the site of the future Gerrard Station on the Ontario Line, marking another milestone in the province’s plan to protect Ontario by creating jobs, cutting commute times across the Greater Toronto Area and bringing nearly 230,000 more people within walking distance of public transit.
“The Ontario Line will introduce all-new rapid transit to the Gerrard and Carlaw community and surrounding neighbourhoods, part of our nearly $70 billion investment to deliver the largest transit expansion in North America,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “In the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty, we are protecting Ontario’s economy by building the next generation of subway service that will create thousands of good-paying jobs and fuel long-term economic growth.”
From the launch shaft, tunnel boring machines will travel north, digging three kilometres of twin tunnels underneath Pape Avenue. The launch shaft will eventually serve as the tunnel portal, where Ontario Line trains will move from above-ground tracks to the underground tunnels. Gerrard Station, located just south of the launch shaft and future portal, will put nearly 12,000 people within walking distance of the Ontario Line, with over 3,000 passengers expected to use the station during rush hour every day.
Once complete, the Ontario Line will deliver quick, convenient subway service to Riverdale and many residents across the east end for the first time. A trip across the city from Exhibition Place to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Don Mills Road will take 30 minutes or less compared to the hour and 10 minutes it takes today. The Ontario Line will also offer more than 40 connections to TTC subways, buses and streetcars, as well as regional train services, bringing nearly 230,000 more people within walking distance of transit.
Quick Facts
• The 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line will have 15 stations, running from Exhibition Place through the downtown core and connecting to the Line 5 Eglinton at Don Mills Road.
• During peak periods like the morning rush hour, the Ontario Line will reduce crowding by up to 15 per cent on the busiest stretch of TTC’s Line 1 between Bloor-Yonge and Wellesley.
• The Ontario Line will support 4,700 jobs annually during construction.
• As part of the Transportation Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Ontario is investing nearly $70 billion over the next decade to build public transit, including the largest subway expansion in Canadian history – the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
Quotes
"The Ontario Line will be a game changer for residents of the Riverdale community, reducing gridlock and making it faster and easier for everyone to travel across the GTA. As part of our capital plan of more than $200 billion to protect and build Ontario, we are seizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build two transit-oriented communities at the future Gerrard Station. These will include nearly 2,400 new homes, new retail and office space to support approximately 685 jobs."
- Kinga Surma
Minister of Infrastructure
"After breaking ground on the Ontario Line’s first tunnel launch shaft at Exhibition Station late last year, we’re here at Gerrard and Carlaw creating another starting point for the project’s second set of tunnels. These tunnels will run underneath Pape Avenue and create a direct connection to the TTC’s Pape Station, which will help reduce crowding on the busiest section of Line 2 by 21 per cent during rush hour. To put it another way, there will be 6,000 fewer people at Bloor-Yonge Station during the busiest travel hour of the day thanks to the Ontario Line."
- Michael Lindsay
President and CEO of Metrolinx
Future tunnel boring machines will dig from south Riverdale to the Don Valley
August 14, 2025
Ministry of Transportation
TORONTO – The Ontario government has broken ground on the second tunnel launch shaft near the site of the future Gerrard Station on the Ontario Line, marking another milestone in the province’s plan to protect Ontario by creating jobs, cutting commute times across the Greater Toronto Area and bringing nearly 230,000 more people within walking distance of public transit.
“The Ontario Line will introduce all-new rapid transit to the Gerrard and Carlaw community and surrounding neighbourhoods, part of our nearly $70 billion investment to deliver the largest transit expansion in North America,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “In the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty, we are protecting Ontario’s economy by building the next generation of subway service that will create thousands of good-paying jobs and fuel long-term economic growth.”
From the launch shaft, tunnel boring machines will travel north, digging three kilometres of twin tunnels underneath Pape Avenue. The launch shaft will eventually serve as the tunnel portal, where Ontario Line trains will move from above-ground tracks to the underground tunnels. Gerrard Station, located just south of the launch shaft and future portal, will put nearly 12,000 people within walking distance of the Ontario Line, with over 3,000 passengers expected to use the station during rush hour every day.
Once complete, the Ontario Line will deliver quick, convenient subway service to Riverdale and many residents across the east end for the first time. A trip across the city from Exhibition Place to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Don Mills Road will take 30 minutes or less compared to the hour and 10 minutes it takes today. The Ontario Line will also offer more than 40 connections to TTC subways, buses and streetcars, as well as regional train services, bringing nearly 230,000 more people within walking distance of transit.
Quick Facts
• The 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line will have 15 stations, running from Exhibition Place through the downtown core and connecting to the Line 5 Eglinton at Don Mills Road.
• During peak periods like the morning rush hour, the Ontario Line will reduce crowding by up to 15 per cent on the busiest stretch of TTC’s Line 1 between Bloor-Yonge and Wellesley.
• The Ontario Line will support 4,700 jobs annually during construction.
• As part of the Transportation Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Ontario is investing nearly $70 billion over the next decade to build public transit, including the largest subway expansion in Canadian history – the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
Quotes
"The Ontario Line will be a game changer for residents of the Riverdale community, reducing gridlock and making it faster and easier for everyone to travel across the GTA. As part of our capital plan of more than $200 billion to protect and build Ontario, we are seizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build two transit-oriented communities at the future Gerrard Station. These will include nearly 2,400 new homes, new retail and office space to support approximately 685 jobs."
- Kinga Surma
Minister of Infrastructure
"After breaking ground on the Ontario Line’s first tunnel launch shaft at Exhibition Station late last year, we’re here at Gerrard and Carlaw creating another starting point for the project’s second set of tunnels. These tunnels will run underneath Pape Avenue and create a direct connection to the TTC’s Pape Station, which will help reduce crowding on the busiest section of Line 2 by 21 per cent during rush hour. To put it another way, there will be 6,000 fewer people at Bloor-Yonge Station during the busiest travel hour of the day thanks to the Ontario Line."
- Michael Lindsay
President and CEO of Metrolinx
James1256
Active Member
Taken today, August 15th, 2025. Utility work has extended into the Don Mills & Eglinton intersection right before the future Don Valley station
GameOnBrad
Active Member
It's almost as if the old Queen Street Bridge was never there. Almost 
kotsy
Senior Member
I'm surprised to see the bit above and next to the sidewalk on the south side wasn't demolished.
The REAL
New Member
It's because it's in a "if they build it they will come" area.
kotsy
Senior Member
Queen East bridge, post demolition:
demolition for Cosburn Station:
demolition for Cosburn Station:
kotsy
Senior Member
New Exhibition CLC meeting slides are out.
Key takeaway: the TBM is launching in early 2026.
Key takeaway: the TBM is launching in early 2026.
kotsy
Senior Member
max
Active Member
Of the 4 T-class Wagenborg vessels, Taagborg is the only one currently bound for Canada and in the Atlantic Ocean, though it's last departure was from Turkey: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ai...05/mmsi:246912000/imo:9546461/vessel:TAAGBORG
Thamesborg has departed from China bound for the east coast but since the TBM is coming from Germany, I don't expect it to be on this one.
Trinityborg and Tiberborg have departed from east coast ports, so depending on the age of the pic it could be one of them that already dropped the cutter head off in Canada.
crs1026
Superstar
GenerationLee
Senior Member
Pape and Sammon, yesterday
lxmoss
Active Member
Moss Park dig.
GameOnBrad
Active Member
