Metrolinx contractors continue construction of the Finch West light rail transit line between Humber College and Finch West subway station in the North York and Etobicoke areas of Toronto.

For two weekends, Metrolinx’ contractor, Mosaic Transit Group, replaced the bridges carrying Highway 400 over Finch Avenue West, using rapid bridge-replacement technology. Crews dismantled the old bridge decks and moved new decks into place. The contractors had already built the new sections of the bridge structure beside the highway.

Metrolinx has released a time-lapse video that apparently speeds up the process to just four minutes!

Leading up to the big lift, the team worked to set up large steel scaffolding on the sites, install 60 concrete girders, tonnes of rebar and poured 800 cubic metres of concrete that would form each bridge weighing 1,500 tonnes — as much as seven adult blue whales.

The contractors replaced the bridge carrying the southbound lanes of the 400 from Friday, June 12 until Monday, June 15. They replaced the northbound bridge from Friday, June 19 until Monday, June 22.

Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation closed the southbound 400 between Highways 407 and 401 the first weekend and the northbound lanes between the 401 and 407 the second. Both weekends, the City closed Finch Avenue West between Signet Drive / Arrow Road and Norfinch Drive / Oakdale Road and the TTC detoured buses.