Ontario Construction News staff writer
More than 40 LiUNA 183 members worked around-the-clock in January, to complete the new underpass for the Hazel McCallion LRT.
McCallion, who served as Mayor of Mississauga from 1978 to 2014, died on Sunday at age 101. Several structures and projects have been named after her, even before her death.
For 55 consecutive hours, the team including several companies and crews, used hydraulic jacks to push a push box, large concrete structure weighing more than 6,000 tonnes into place – a first in Ontario.
The QEW push box will be the permanent underpass for northbound Hurontario traffic, allowing space for the Hazel McCallion Line tracks through the existing underpass along with the southbound Hurontario traffic.
In a statement, the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) said all of its members and staff are saddened to hear of McCallion’s death
“Hazel was the very epitome of an outstanding public servant and her 12 terms as mayor of Mississauga transformed her city, the region and indeed the entire province,” says RESCON president Richard Lyall.
From 1978 to 2014, McCallion served the City of Mississauga during a period of unprecedented transformation. She recognized from the beginning the importance of building a diverse, liveable and affordable city for the residents of Mississauga.
“I recall recently speaking with Hazel at the province’s speech from the throne and she was the usual vibrant, engaging and dedicated person we all loved and cherished,” says Lyall. “She will be missed beyond words.”
As mayor, McCallion recognized the need to provide affordable and liveable communities all across Mississauga. She worked with the development industry as builders created new communities to ensure that they were well served with every conceivable public amenity from arenas to libraries. She famously once quipped, “I only spend the taxpayers’ money Iike I spend my own, which is seldom.”
“We join with the residents of Mississauga, and indeed all people across Ontario and Canada, in conveying to her family our sincerest condolences,” says Lyall. “The world is a less interesting place today without Hurricane Hazel McCallion.”