Ontario Line breaks ground on elevated stretch with possible 'early 2030s' opening

The province held a groundbreaking for a three-kilometre elevated guideway and four new Ontario Line stations; Metrolinx says the project remains on track for the 'early 2030s' but will not set a firm opening date while testing and commissioning are planned.

The province held a groundbreaking for a three-kilometre elevated stretch of the Ontario Line and four new stations connecting Don Valley, Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park. Crews have begun work on the elevated guideway and on Cosburn Station. Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay said the project is on track for an opening in the "early 2030s" but the agency will not commit to a firm date. He cited lessons from delays to the Eglinton Crosstown and said robust testing and commissioning will be required. Key facts: - Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay said the line is on track for the "early 2030s" but declined to set a target opening date, noting the need for systems testing and commissioning after construction. - Groundbreaking covers a three-kilometre raised guideway and four northern stations; the province says this segment will bring about 30,500 people within walking distance and improve access to roughly 14,800 jobs. - The elevated guideway will carry trains up to 14 metres above street level from the west end of Overlea Boulevard in Thorncliffe Park north to Don Valley Station at Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East, and ground has been broken at Cosburn Station. - The full Ontario Line is planned as a 15.6-kilometre route from Exhibition Place through downtown that will connect to Line 5 Eglinton and is projected by the government to serve nearly 390,000 daily boardings. - The federal government is contributing more than $4 billion to the project, and construction is underway at all stations south of Bloor–Danforth with work expanding north. Summary: The groundbreaking advances construction on a northern elevated segment that officials say will shorten commutes and improve transit access for tens of thousands. Metrolinx emphasizes a period of systems testing and commissioning will follow before service can be confirmed. Undetermined at this time.