Premier had said Eglinton line to open in September
A crew works on a retaining structure and groundwater barrier near the future Lawrence and McCowan station. Courtesy Metrolinx.
There is an old saying that “no news is good news.” Unfortunately, when it comes to Scarborough transit projects, no news usually means no progress, which for Scarborough residents sick of never-ending construction and congestion, is definitely not good news.
Mpulse Scarborough recently reached out to Metrolinx to get an update on the opening date for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and a status report on the Scarborough Subway Extension. We did not receive a reply.
In early June, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters that it was his understanding that the Eglinton Crosstown was on track to open in September and that operation of the line would be handed over to the TTC in the coming weeks.
Despite multiple media outlets reaching out to Metrolinx for verification of this timeline, Metrolinx has not responded. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT began construction in 2011 and was supposed to open in 2020. Construction deficiencies and software issues have been ongoing concerns. In January of this year Metrolinx announced that they would be doing “platform deficiency repair works” on the most easterly portion of the LRT, from Brentcliffe Ro to Kennedy Rd. This required multiple rolling lane closures along Eglinton Ave East.
In January and February Metrolinx was also undertaking “restoration work” on the north side of Eglinton Ave East between Ionview Road and Kennedy Road which included excavation, curb construction, asphalt work and relocation of a fire hydrant. They had to return to this site again in April to do further work.
In May, Metrolinx announced they would be doing landscaping along Eglinton East from Brentcliffe to Kennedy.
As for the 8 kilometre, 3 station, Scarborough Subway Extension from Kennedy Station to McCowan Rd and Shepherd Ave East, construction is ongoing at Kennedy Station and the McCowan/Lawrence Station. Excavation and site preparation work are also happening at the Midland/Eglinton and Scarborough Centre Stations.
As for the subway tunnel itself, there have been no updates since early April when Metrolinx said the tunnel boring machine was still “hampered” by soil conditions, a situation they first announced in late November 2024.
Metrolinx was originally excited to publicly report on the whereabouts of its tunnel boring machine, which it named “Diggy Stardust.” A graphic posted to the Scarborough Subway Extention’s X social media account in November 2021 showed them “tracking the Scarborough Subway Extension’s TBM” from the factory in Germany where it was built, through a port in the Netherlands, and then onto a cargo ship bound for Toronto. Metrolinx also promised a tracker to follow the machine’s progress underground, but that never materialized.
The digging began in January 2023. It’s unclear how far the machine has gone, but speculation online suggests only around 1 kilometre of the tunnel has been dug so far. This undermines the subway’s projected 2030 competition date, given the tunnel itself is supposed to be finished later this year. The Metrolinx Board of Directors will meet on June 26. Scarborough residents deserve some good news for a change.
