Metrolinx Celebrates Progress on Hazel McCallion Line

Metrolinx officials announced the completion of multiple key milestones to deliver the new Hazel McCallion Line.

Metrolinx

As the year draws to a close, Metrolinx officials looked back on major milestones the agency achieved in 2022 on the new Hazel McCallion Line.

Work at the operations, maintenance and storage facility progressed significantly in 2022, the agency said. The OMSF will be the hub of the new line, with vehicles traveling over a new bridge spanning Etobicoke Creek to reach the facility.

The facility includes a repair shop, vehicle cleaning facility, material storage, and capacity for 42 light-rail vehicles, Metrolinx said. The majority of the construction related to the OMSF is now complete.

This year, Metrolinx also installed tracks inside the OMSF yard and building, in addition to installing the raised platform used to access the top of the light-rail vehicles.

Guideway construction took place from Matheson Boulevard to Britannia Road in preparation for track installation. Track work is now complete at several intersections, including at Hurontario Street and Sandstone Drive/ Brunel Road, Milverton Drive/ Watline Avenue and Aldridge Street/Traders Boulevard, the agency said.

Crews also installed a new underpass under the Queen Elizabeth Way at Hurontario Street during a single weekend, Metrolinx said. The process entailed using hydraulic jacks to push a push box weighing more than 6,000 tons into place.

The push box will serve as the permanent underpass for northbound Hurontario traffic, making space for the Hazel McCallion Line tracks through the existing underpass along with the southbound Hurontario traffic.

Crews working on the Hazel McCallion line officially began pushing a push box underneath the Lakeshore West rail tracks at the Port Credit GO Station utilizing the Verona System after more than a year of preparatory work.

With the installation of the push box as a new route beneath the rail tracks, the planned Hazel McCallion line will be able to approach and exit the Port Credit GO Station without interfering with rail operations on the rails above, Metrolinx said. 

The Hazel McCallion Line will also include a flyover bridge to allow the line to intersect Highway 403. The new structure will provide a route over the 403, reducing disruptions to vehicle traffic. The first girders of the new bridge are currently being put into place, in addition to support columns, abutments and caps, Metrolinx said. 

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