Metrolinx contractors are working to build the future Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit line.
This weekend, crews are lifting the tunnel-boring machines (TBMs), Dennis and Lea, out of the extraction shaft on Eglinton Avenue West west of William R. Allen Road to the launch shaft, east of Allen Road.
Dennis and Lea have been digging out the western segment of the Crosstown’s underground section from a launch shaft near Eglinton West and Black Creek Drive since June 2012. In a few weeks, they’ll start tunneling towards another extraction site near Duplex Avenue, just west of Yonge Street.
Crews will move the machines Saturday, April 18 from 2 until 5 a.m. and Sunday, April 19 from 2 until 5 a.m. to bypass the tunnel for TTC subway trains. Although Metrolinx is encouraging members of the public to drop by the area to watch the big move, TTC services are not available in the area during this activity. Since the City of Toronto is also restricting access on Eglinton Avenue West to local traffic only, the best way to access the viewing area is on foot.
If you don’t wish to stay up all night to watch the move, Metrolinx staff will be available Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and from 3 until 6 p.m. to answer your questions about what’s going on. You can visit Metrolinx staff in Eglinton West Station to learn more and staff will be providing free coffee and hot chocolate.
Metrolinx and the City have co-ordinated this work with the City’s regular spring maintenance of William R. Allen Road.
The City is closing:
- Allen Road, southbound curb lane at Eglinton Avenue West from 9 p.m. Thursday, April 16 until 9 p.m. Friday, April 17, while Metrolinx crews get ready to move the TBMs;
- Allen Road, full road, between Lawrence and Eglinton Avenues West from 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, while Metrolinx crews move the TBMs and City crews conduct spring maintenance of the roadway;
- Allen Road, full road, between Sheppard and Lawrence Avenues West from 11 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, while City crews conduct spring maintenance of the roadway;
- Eglinton Avenue West, eastbound curb lane, until June, while Metrolinx crews get ready to move the TBMs, allowing them to move and set up the equipment and then reconfigure the extraction and launch shafts;
- Eglinton Avenue West, full road, between the south- and northbound ramps to and from William R. Allen Road, from 11 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, while Metrolinx crews move the TBMs.
“Paid-duty” Toronto Police Service officers will direct motorists, pedestrians and spectators through the weekend operation at key locations along Eglinton West between Marlee Avenue and Bathurst Street.
Pedestrians can access this area all day Saturday and Sunday, but must use a special walkway on the south side of Eglinton West.
Moving Dennis and Lea affects TTC services along these routes Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday and early Monday:
- 1 Yonge - University subway;
- 32 Eglinton West;
- 63 Ossington;
- 109 Ranee;
- 307 Eglinton West overnight; and
- 316 Ossington overnight.
Closing all of Allen Road for maintenance affects these GO Transit routes:
- 34 Brampton / Pearson / North York;
- 35 Brampton / Humber College / North York;
- 47G Hamilton / York University; and
- 96 Oshawa / Yorkdale.
It also affects these TTC routes:
- 7 Bathurst;
- 29 Dufferin;
- 47 Lansdowne;
- 52 Lawrence West
- 59 Maple Leaf
- 84 Sheppard West;
- 96 Wilson;
- 101 Downsview Park;
- 104 Faywood;
- 105 Dufferin North;
- 106 York University;
- 107 Keele North;
- 108 Downsview;
- 109 Ranee;
- 120 Calvington;
- 160 Bathurst North;
- 165 Weston Rd North;
- 196 York University rocket.
Each TBM is ten metres (about 32 feet) long, 6.5 metres (21 feet) in diameter and weighs about 400 tonnes (882,000 pounds). Moving each machine requires crews to perfectly co-ordinate moving each machine.
A gantry crane will hoist each TBM and load it onto a self-propelled trailer to move the machines. This trailer (or “dolly”) has 13 rows of six wheels. Crews have already installed a temporary bridge deck on Eglinton Avenue for moving the TBMs. After crews have loaded each TBM onto the dolly, it will move 100 metres (300 feet) eastward along Eglinton West and across the temporary bridge deck, where another gantry crane will unload the TBM and lower it into the launch shaft.
As a precaution, Metrolinx will lift and move the TBMs overnight while the TTC subway is not operating. They’ll move each TBM separately early Saturday and Sunday.
(Photos: Metrolinx)
GO Transit
34 Brampton / Pearson / North York
35 Brampton / Humber College / North York
47G Hamilton / York University
96 Oshawa / Yorkdale
From 11 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect detours and delays resulting from extra traffic near Yorkdale GO Bus Terminal.
Toronto Transit Commission
7 Bathurst
Since Bathurst Street is an alternate route for motorists while Allen Road is closed, expect delays from 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20.
160 Bathurst North
Since Bathurst Street is an alternate route for motorists while Allen Road is closed, expect delays from 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20. Also expect delays as buses enter and exit Wilson Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
120 Calvington
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays on Wilson Avenue between Dufferin and Bathurst Streets and as buses enter and exit Wilson Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
101 Downsview Park
108 Downsview
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays on Sheppard Avenue West between Keele and Bathurst Streets and as buses enter and exit Downsview Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
29 Dufferin
Since Dufferin Street is an alternate route for motorists while Allen Road is closed, expect delays from 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20. Also expect delays as buses enter and exit Wilson Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
105 Dufferin North
Since Dufferin Street and Wilson Heights Boulevard are alternate routes for motorists while Allen Road is closed, expect delays from 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20. Also expect delays as buses enter and exit Downsview Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
32 Eglinton West
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, the TTC splits the route into an eastern and a western route.
Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Eglinton Avenue West across from Marlee Avenue,
- in Eglinton West Station bus terminal and
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Westover Hill, Glen Cedar and Chiltern Hill Roads and Bathurst Street.
Westbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Bathurst Street, Hilltop and Old Park Roads,
- in Eglinton West Station bus terminal and
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Marlee Avenue and across from Oakwood Avenue.
In the east end of the route, eastbound buses start their trips in St. Clair West Station, then proceed:
westward along St. Clair Avenue West; and then
northward along Bathurst Street to Eglinton Avenue West,
resuming their regular route eastward along Eglinton West.Eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- in St. Clair West Station terminal and
- on Bathurst Street north of St. Clair Avenue West, at Tichester, Lonsdale Roads, across from Heathdale Road, at Burton and Ardmore Roads, north of Ava Road and at Dewbourne Avenue and Eglinton Avenue West.
Westbound buses reverse the eastbound detour routing.
Westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Bathurst Street at Dewbourne Avenue, across from Ava Road, at Warwick Avenue, across from Ardmore Road, at Strathearne Boulevard, south of Heathdale Road and Claxton Boulevard and across from Tichester Road,
- on St. Clair Avenue West east of Bathurst Street and
- in St. Clair West Station terminal.
Passengers may transfer between the east and west routes at St. Clair West Station to continue their trips further westward along Eglinton West.
In the west end of the route, eastbound buses operate along their regular route to Eglinton Avenue West and Oakwood Avenue, then detour:
southward along Oakwood Avenue;
southeastward along Vaughan Road; and then
eastward along St. Clair Avenue West to St. Clair West Station,
ending their trips.Eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Oakwood Avenue south of Eglinton Avenue West and at Clovelly Avenue,
- on Vaughan Road southeast of Oakwood and Robina Avenues, at Jesmond Avenue, southwest of Winona Drive and Arlington Avenue, at Humewood Drive, Wychwood and Kenwood Avenues, south of Maplewood Avenue and at Louise Avenue,
- on St. Clair Avenue West east of Vaughan Road and Bathurst Street and
- in St. Clair West Station terminal.
The TTC will also allow a walking transfer between the buses and subway trains operating along the 1 Yonge - University line. Eastbound passengers may exit buses on Eglinton Avenue West west of Oakwood Avenue and walk six blocks eastward to the subway station. Passengers may also connect to the subway line at St. Clair West Station.
Westbound buses reverse the eastbound detour routing.
Westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- in St. Clair West Station terminal,
- on St. Clair Avenue West west of Bathurst Street,
- on Vaughan Road north of St. Clair Avenue West, at Louise, Maplewood and Kenwood Avenues, Connaught Circle, Rushton Road and Arlington and Atlas Avenues, west of Winona Drive and at Glenora and Oakwood Avenues,
- on Oakwood Avenue at Clovelly Avenue and south of Eglinton Avenue West.
Passengers may transfer between the west and east routes at St. Clair West Station to continue their trips further eastward along Eglinton West.
The TTC will also allow a walking transfer between subway trains operating along the 1 Yonge - University line and the buses. Westbound passengers may exit the subway at St. Clair West Station to connect to westbound buses or exit at Eglinton West Station and walk six blocks westward to Oakwood Avenue south of Eglinton West to board the buses.
307 Eglinton West overnight
Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 and before 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, eastbound buses operate along their regular route to Eglinton Avenue West and Marlee Avenue, then detour:
northward along Marlee;
eastward along Glencairn Avenue; and then
southward along Bathurst Street to Eglinton West,
resuming their regular route eastward along Eglinton.Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Eglinton Avenue West across from Marlee Avenue, west of Everden Road and at Westover Hill, Glen Cedar and Chiltern Hill Roads and Bathurst Street.
Instead, eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Marlee Avenue at Whitmore, Roselawn, Ridelle, Stayner, Viewmount and Glencairn Avenues,
- on Glencairn Avenue at Shermount, Englemount, Dalemount and Glenmount Avenues and Bathurst Street and
- on Bathurst Street south of Viewmount Avenue, at Briar Hill Avenue, south of Ridelle Avenue and at Elm Ridge and Ridge Hill Drives.
Westbound buses reverse the eastbound detour routing.
Eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Bathurst Street at Vesta Drive, Roselawn and Briar Hill Avenues and Lytton Boulevard,
- on Glencairn Avenue west of Bathurst Street and at Glenmount, Dalemount, Englemount, Shermount and Marlee Avenues and
- on Marlee Avenue south of Viewmount Avenue and at Stayner, Ridelle, Roselawn, Whitmore and Livingston Avenues.
104 Faywood
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays as buses exit and enter Downsview and Wilson station terminals due to traffic congestion.
107 Keele North
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays on Sheppard Avenue West between Keele and Bathurst Streets and as buses enter and exit Downsview Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
47 Lansdowne
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays on Yorkdale Road due to traffic congestion.
52 Lawrence West
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays on Lawrence Avenue West between Dufferin and Bathurst Street and as buses enter and exit Lawrence West Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
59 Maple Leaf
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays on Lawrence Avenue West east of Dufferin Street and as buses enter and exit Lawrence West Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
63 Ossington
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, southbound buses start their trips on Eglinton Avenue West west of Oakwood Avenue, then proceed:
along their regular route southward along Oakwood.
Southbound buses skip their regular stops
- in Eglinton West Station bus terminal and
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Marlee Avenue.
Instead, southbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at a temporary stop
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Oakwood Avenue.
The TTC will allow a walking transfer between subway trains operating along the 1 Yonge - University line and the buses. Southbound passengers may exit the subway at Eglinton West Station and walk six blocks west to Eglinton Avenue West west of Oakwood Avenue to board the buses.
Northbound buses operate along their regular route to Oakwood Avenue and Vaughan Road, then detour:
northwestward along Vaughan; and then
northward along Northcliffe Boulevard; and then
westward along Eglinton Avenue West to Oakwood Avenue,
ending their trips.Northbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Oakwood Avenue at Clovelley Avenue and Eglinton Avenue West,
- on Eglinton Avenue West across from Marlee Avenue and
- in Eglinton West Station bus terminal.
Instead, northbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Vaughan Road northwest of Oakwood Avenue, at Glenholme Avenue and Northcliffe Boulevard,
- on Northcliffe Boulevard at Eglinton Avenue West and
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Glenholme and Oakwood Avenues.
The TTC will allow a walking transfer between the buses and subway trains operating along the 1 Yonge - University line. Northbound passengers may exit buses on Eglinton Avenue West west of Oakwood Avenue and walk six blocks east to Eglinton West Station.
316 Ossington overnight
Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 and before 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, , southbound buses start their trips on Eglinton Avenue West west of Oakwood Avenue, then proceed:
along their regular route southward along Oakwood.
Southbound buses skip their regular stop
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Marlee Avenue.
Instead, southbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at a temporary stop
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Oakwood Avenue.
Northbound buses operate along their regular route to Oakwood Avenue and Vaughan Road, then detour:
northwestward along Vaughan;
northward along Northcliffe Boulevard; and then
eastward along Eglinton Avenue West to Oakwood Avenue,
ending their trips.Northbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Oakwood Avenue at Clovelley Avenue and Eglinton Avenue West and
- on Eglinton Avenue West across from Marlee Avenue and at Everden Road.
Instead, northbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Vaughan Road northwest of Oakwood Avenue, at Glenholme Avenue and Northcliffe Boulevard,
- on Northcliffe Boulevard at Eglinton Avenue West and
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Glenholme and Oakwood Avenues.
109 Ranee
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, southbound buses operate along their regular route to Marlee Avenue and Eglinton Avenue West, ending their trips.
Southbound buses skip their regular stop
- in Eglinton West Station.
The TTC will allow a walking transfer between the buses and subway trains operating along the 1 Yonge - University line. Southbound passengers may exit the subway on Marlee Avenue north of Eglinton Avenue West and walk six blocks eastward to Eglinton West Station to board the trains.
Northbound buses start their trips on Marlee Avenue at Eglinton Avenue West, then proceed:
westward along Eglinton West;
southward along Northcliffe Boulevard;
southeastward along Vaughan Road;
northward along Oakwood Avenue; and then
eastward along Eglinton Avenue West to Marlee Avenue,
resuming their regular route northward along Marlee.Northbound buses skip their regular stops
- in Eglinton West Station terminal and
- on Eglinton Avenue West at Marlee Avenue.
Instead, northbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Eglinton Avenue West across from Oakwood and Glenholme Avenues and at Locksley Avenue and
- on Oakwood Avenue at Clovelly Avenue and Eglinton Avenue West.
The TTC will allow a walking transfer between subway trains operating along the 1 Yonge - University line and the buses. Northbound passengers may exit the subway at Eglinton West Station and walk six blocks west to Oakwood Avenue south of Eglinton Avenue West to board the buses.
84 Sheppard West
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays on Sheppard Avenue West between Dufferin and Bathurst Streets and as buses enter and exit Downsview Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
165 Weston Rd North
96 Wilson
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays on Wilson Avenue between Dufferin and Bathurst Streets and as buses enter and exit Wilson Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
1 Yonge - University subway
Regular service. Metrolinx will move Dennis and Lea while the subway is not operating.
The bus terminal at Eglinton West Station is closed. The TTC has set up walking transfer rules for passengers wanting to connect with the buses that usually operate through Eglinton West Station terminal.
Walk six blocks westward along Eglinton Avenue West to Oakwood Avenue to connect with buses.
- Board westbound buses operating along the 32 Eglinton West route on Oakwood just south of Eglinton West;
- Board southbound buses operating along the 63 Ossington route on Eglinton West west of Oakwood; and
- Board northbound buses operating along the 109 Ranee route on Oakwood just south of Eglinton West.
You can also board eastbound buses operating along the 32 Eglinton Westt route at St. Clair West Station.
106 York University
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays on Sheppard Avenue West between Keele and Bathurst Streets and as buses enter and exit Downsview Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
196 York University rocket
From 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, expect delays as buses enter and exit Downsview Station terminal due to traffic congestion.
While William R. Allen Road is closed, City crews will:
- paving sections of the roadway;
- inspect bridges;
- maintain bridges;
- repair the roadway, including potholes;
- maintain signs;
- inspect and repair streetlights;
- clean and repair catch basins to make sure they drain properly;
- repainting pavement markings;
- inspect and repair overhead signs;
- flush and sweep the roadway;
- clean up the roadside;
- repair the guardrails; and
- remove litter.
Motorists can drive along Dufferin and Bathurst Streets and Wilson Heights Boulevard as alternative routes during the closure and should plan extra time to get to and from their destinations.
To reduce traffic congestion resulting from the closure, the City will also:
- change traffic-signal timing to enhance traffic flow on nearby routes; and
- co-ordinate other construction projects to avoid major work taking place along parallel routes if possible.
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