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Lake Shore Boulevard West track renewal projects: Crews welding and storing rail in track area, starting March 28



UpdateCanada Day, Friday, July 1, 7:35 a.m.: Phase 1 construction in Mimico starts Monday, July 4. The TTC is detouring buses around the work zone.


The TTC intends to rebuild the streetcar infrastructure at two sites in south Etobicoke this year:

  • in New Toronto at the intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard West with Kipling Avenue / Colonel Smith Park Road; and
  • in Mimico on Lake Shore West between Mimico Avenue and Louisa Street.

Starting Monday, March 28, TTC crews get ready for both projects by welding and storing rail in the track area between Superior Avenue and Burlington Street. They’re welding standard lengths of rail into longer strings, which will allow them to install track more quickly. This, in turn, reduces the timeline that construction disrupts the local communities.

The crews mostly work from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily. They may also occasionally work after hours or overnight to support the daytime welding operation. For example, they’ll move the long strings of rail to the westbound track lane between Summerhill Road and Hillside Avenue, where they will store them. To move the rails safely and efficiently, they’ll pull the rails to the storage site overnight for two nights with a Toronto Police Service escort. Expect noise during this activity.

They’ll gradually deplete the pile of rails as they progress with the projects to install new track at each of the sites.

Since buses temporarily replace streetcars along the 301 Queen overnight and 501 Queen routes, the TTC can store the rail in the track area without affecting streetcar service. However, passengers aboard buses along these routes can expect delays:

  • 301 Queen overnight; and
  • 501 Queen / Long Branch shuttle bus.
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