Ontario Construction News staff writer
Toronto’s general governance committee has recommended offering a sole-source $40-million contract to Midome Construction Services Ltd. to complete streetcar track installation and utility work on Adelaide Street.
Midome is already replacing water mains in the area and says it could complete additional work on the 570-metre stretch by March 2024.
The goal, according to councillors, is to reduce to 10 months (from 20) the time shuttle buses will be needed to divert riders around a two-block section of Queen Street between Victoria Street and Bay Street.
That section will close May 1 until the end of 2027 while a new underground station is built for the Ontario Line subway route.
“In order to ensure efficient transit operations and minimize overlap between the Queen Street closure and restrictions on Adelaide Street during construction of the streetcar tracks, it is imperative that construction proceeds as soon as possible,” the city’s chief engineer, transportation services manager and chief procurement officer wrote in a report to the committee.
“Midome’s current presence on-site means that they can start almost immediately, offering significant efficiencies.”
Work on Adelaide started in September 2022 and includes:
- replacement of the 100+ year old watermain and City-owned portion of substandard water services from York Street to Victoria Street
- reinstatement of eastbound streetcar track system on Adelaide Street from Charlotte Street to York Street
- relocation of the cycle track from the south to the north side of the street from Bathurst Street to Parliament Street. Learn more about the benefits of relocating the cycles track on Adelaide Street
- installation of new bike signals
- modification of traffic signal timing
- pedestrian safety improvements at various locations from Bathurst Street to Parliament Street
Watermain replacement and streetcar track reinstatement works are being carried out in advance of the upcoming construction of the Ontario Line subway by Metrolinx.
With the TTC confirming track installation on Adelaide Street won’t be completed before Queen Street closes due to “the amount and complexity of utility conflicts and relocations that have been identified through site surveys,” the city is looking for a quicker alternative.
Contracting Midome “is key to reducing the risks and liability to the city of having two separate contractors working on site,” the report said.
Metrolinx has agreed to pay the bulk of the contract, with the city responsible for around $300,000 in road resurfacing, according to the report.
Council will review the plan on Mar. 29.
Councillor Gord Perks has blamed Metrolinx for the construction delay.
However, “the detour infrastructure work cannot begin until the [City of Toronto’s] current — and unrelated — utility upgrades are completed,” the statement said. “We have worked collaboratively with the City of Toronto and TTC to minimize the impacts of this delay,” Metrolinx said in a statement.