Metrolinx takes over design and construction of Toronto’s LRTs
October 15, 2012
By
Canadian Consulting Engineer
Hatch Mott MacDonald is the prime consultant for tunnels on the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT, dubbed "the cornerstone" of a vast new transit expansion in Toronto.
Hatch Mott MacDonald is the prime consultant for tunnels on the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT, dubbed “the cornerstone” of a vast new transit expansion in Toronto.
The central 6-kilometre section of the Eglinton line, which extends from east to west across the metropolis, will be a tunnel. Brian Garrod is the project manager at HMM, and Tomas Gregor is project engineer. Thurber Engineering is doing the geotechnical work, and IBI is architectural subconsultant.
Early in October it was decided that Metrolinx, the regional transit authority, will be in charge of the design, construction and financing of all Toronto’s new LRT lines rather than the Toronto Transit Commission. The TTC will operate the lines once they are completed.
A consortium known as Crosstown Transit Constructors was given the $320-million contract to build the Eglinton LRT tunnel in September. The tunnel will run from Black Creek Drive in the west, across Yonge Street, and on to Laird Drive in the east. Currently, however, the actual point in the east end where the tunnel will end and the line will emerge onto the surface on on its way to Scarborough is still under review. Four tunnel boring machines have been ordered, and the line is scheduled to be operating by 2020.
Corrected October 16, 2012, 9.36 a.m.
