Ontario Construction News staff writer
Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have awarded a $757.1 million contract to Strabag to design, build and finance the tunnel for the Scarborough Subway Extension. Preparatory works at the launch shaft site started in April and major construction on the three-stop project is set to begin in June.
The Strabag consortium includes international and local companies with extensive experience working on other major tunneling projects in Canada and around the world including:
- Applicant Lead: Strabag AG
- Construction Team: Strabag Inc.
- Design Team: Arup Canada Inc., Brian Isherwood & Associates Ltd.
- Financial Advisor: Strabag Inc.
The 7.8-kilometre subway extension will bring public transit further into Scarborough and is expected to attract more than 100,000 riders each day. It’s a key pillar of the province’s historic $28.5 billion subway expansion program, which also includes the Ontario Line, the Yonge North Subway Extension, and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. Together, these projects will add more than 40 kilometers of new subway service to the rapid transit network.
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario have split up the delivery of the project into two contracts – the advanced tunnel contract and a stations, railway and systems contract.
“For far too long, Scarborough commuters have unfairly dealt with outdated transit that couldn’t keep up with the growing and thriving communities in Toronto’s east end. The Scarborough Subway Extension will create thousands of jobs during construction and unlock better access to employment spaces, schools and other key destinations throughout the city,” Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney said in a statement.
The three-stop subway extends service from Kennedy Station to Sheppard Avenue and McCowan Road, providing quick and seamless transit for those heading in and out of the downtown core and those travelling within Scarborough.
“With two experienced teams – Strabag and West End Connectors – and the federal government’s new funding commitment of up to $10.7 billion, Ontario is pushing ahead with the successful delivery of our four priority transit projects,” Mulroney said.
As part of this contract, Strabag will be responsible for designing and constructing the tunnel for the Scarborough Subway Extension, designing and building the launch and extraction shafts and supplying the tunnel boring machine.
Once they consortium was identified First Negotiations Proponent, Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario signed agreements with Strabag to ensure that they could complete early works at the launch shaft site, located at the northeast corner of Sheppard and McCowan. This site is where the tunnel boring machine will descend into the ground to begin the tunneling process.
Since April, Strabag’s crews have disconnected utilities, began clearing structures and set up office trailers to prepare for construction.
Now that all aspects of the advanced tunnel contract have been finalized, work continues at the launch shaft site to prepare for the massive excavation required before the arrival of the tunnel boring machine early next year.