kotsy
Senior Member
They aren't.
Toronto Ontario Line 3 | Metrolinx
- Thread starter JasonParis
- Start date
81-717
Active Member
Assuming tunnelling is the lion's share of work for building a new line, and seeing as tunnelling apparently just started now, the early 2030s opening date seems questionable.
kotsy
Senior Member
Based on how long it took them to build the launch shaft at Exhibition to the actual launching date of the first TBM, I don't expect the Pape TBMs to start boring until next summer at the earliest, possibly even fall. The latest report from the Gerrard site was that half the piling has been completed. The good news is that the Pape underground segment is half as long as the downtown segment (3km vs 6km)
urbanclient
Active Member
For clarity, are those 6 figure costs predicated on construction already starting or being completed for signage? If nothing has been made yet, the cost to change the not-yet-made sign should be next to nothing compared to half a million dollars.
fanoftoronto
Senior Member
Tunnelling is not the lion's share of the overall build of the new line. Station construction is equally as complex and time consuming. For reference, the Eglinton crosstown west extension finished tunnelling in June 2025 (project broke ground in March 2022), but with station construction just starting we're still only expecting completion by 2029 or 2030.
Station construction for the Ontario line has the added issue of having 35m deep stations in the downtown section which is much more difficult to build than the shallow Eglinton West stations. Also, space is not a concern for the Eglinton West stations vs downtown for the Ontario Line. The good thing for the Ontario Line is that we're already well on our way to build the stations for the line. The only hassle being that the TBMs will have to be dis-assembled and re-assembled when it reaches each of the already excavated stations further increasing the total tunnelling time.
Also, rest assured that according to my research, another 2 TBMs will be used to tunnel the Pape avenue portion of the line: Metrolinx press release
It is clear though, that the opening date for the OL will inevitably push back from the current 2031 date to at least 2033 or later, which is a shame. All of the money being thrown at this project and yet it will be both over budget and delayed.
TwoWheelPoli
Active Member
Thanks. I was wondering how that Pape tunnel would be dealt with.
Given the construction won't be done until the early 2030's, Metrolinx needs to start planning now for the eventual northern extension to Line 4 at Don Mills.
81-717
Active Member
Yeah, underground stations are probably even more complex to build (plus they still require tunnelling to allow them to be built), but above-ground stations shouldn't be more complex? How's the progress with the underground stations now?
fanoftoronto
Senior Member
You’re right the above ground stations aren’t as complex to build.
The elevated stations in the north end of the line should be the easiest to build but not much work has started on them. Better to focus on starting the longer timeline parts of the line.
The stations on the joint Go-OL line are going to have to wait until the rail line expansion is completed so not much progress has been made.
Most (all?) of the downtown underground stations have excavation started as they are the most complex stations to build. Pape station also has excavations started and they’re working their way down to the existing tunnels of Line 2. I’m not sure what the status is for Cosburn station.
Transit
New Member
Doubt that's happening as long as Don Valley West, Don Valley East, and Don Valley North are all Liberal MPPs.
reinventingthewheel
Senior Member
APTA-2048
Senior Member
Let’s hope this TBM doesn’t get stuck.
nfitz
Superstar
With it opening in the early 2030's, construction - certainly the digging the wholes in the ground stage - should be finished well before opening.
urbanclient
Active Member
When do you predict the Ontario Line will open?
nfitz
Superstar
I have no predictions. But I'd hope that by the end of 2030, there won't be big visible construction and cranes everywhere.
TossYourJacket
Senior Member
Personally I'm much more worried about the underpinning at Pape Station delaying the line than I am about the downtown tunnel, given underpinning at Eglinton was a huge issue for the Crosstown.