Ontario Construction News staff writer
A $290 million design-build contract for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (ECWE) project’s Elevated Guideway has been awarded to Aecon Group Inc.
Aecon will subcontract early works to Aecon Six Nations (A6N), an Indigenous-owned and operated general partnership between Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (51 per cent) and Aecon (49 per cent). Aecon will also support Metrolinx to explore partnerships with Indigenous-owned businesses during the project.
“We are pleased to expand our role in delivering this critical transit extension that will improve mobility for surrounding communities and decrease travel times for commuters,” said Jean-Louis Servranckx, president and CEO Aecon Group Inc. “Building on Aecon’s experience executing some of the most complex transit projects in Ontario’s history, we look forward to successfully executing this project while supporting our client in working collaboratively with local and Indigenous communities.”
Work includes design and construction of a 1.5-kilometre elevated guideway that will run along the north side of Eglinton Avenue West, from just east of Jane Street to just west of Scarlett Road. Construction is expected to commence in early 2024, with anticipated completion in 2028.
“As part of the largest expansion of public transit in Canadian history, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will bring more people in Toronto and Mississauga closer to rapid transit,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, minister of transportation. “This is another step forward in our government’s plan to build critical transportation infrastructure that makes life easier and more affordable for people, while spurring economic growth for decades to come.”
The elevated guideway is a critical part of the 9.2-kilometre extension of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and will run from Mount Dennis in the east to Renforth Drive in the west, featuring connections to UP Express and Kitchener GO train services, as well as TTC, GO and MiWay bus services.
Elevating the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension over the Humber River will create up to 4,600 jobs annually during construction and attract 69,700 daily boardings by 2041.
“We are thrilled to reach another important milestone for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. When combined with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, this line will bring riders from Mississauga through midtown Toronto and all the way to Scarborough, making it easier for thousands of people to choose transit first and taking an estimated 6.5 million car trips off the road each year,” said Phil Verster, president and CEO of Metrolinx.