Current Construction Activities
Current Construction Activities
Construction on Stage 1 of the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor continues. Current activities include:
- Construction of the Transitway Tunnel which began in January 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2011,
- Completion of the pumping station for the Transitway Tunnel,
- Construction of a retaining wall along Stradbrook Avenue to support the CN railway embankment so the Transitway can be built between the railway tracks and Stradbrook Avenue.
(Looking east towards Stradbrook & Queen Elizabeth Way) Installation of piles for the retaining wall to support the CN railway embankment
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Transitway Tunnel Construction
Work has started on the construction of the Transitway Tunnel. This concrete tunnel (approximately 350 meters long) will allow the Transitway to run beneath the CN tracks from a location near the east end of Warsaw Avenue (off Pembina Highway) to the other side of the railway tracks behind the Fort Rouge Transit Base at 421 Osborne Street. To allow continued operation of railway traffic, the Transitway Tunnel will be constructed in two phases.
To complete the overall project and open Stage 1 of the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor by the fall of 2011, construction activities on the tunnel will be very intense with the tunnel contractor advising that work will likely be required 7 days a week, at times including nights and holidays.
The City advises residents and businesses in the area surrounding the Fort Rouge Yards to expect construction noise during the completion of the Transitway Tunnel. The City also advises that, wherever possible, the contractor will make every effort to minimize the impact on citizens in the affected area. Due to the nature of the project it will be impossible to eliminate all construction noise which will vary depending on the specific work being done.
(Plan view of the Transitway Tunnel location in the Fort Rouge Yards)
(Looking southeast from the east end of Warsaw Street) Temporary relocation of CN Tracks
Work on the Transitway Tunnel began in 2009 with the relocation of the CN tracks in the Fort Rouge Yards. This allows the tunnel to be constructed without any disruption to train service.
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Construction of steel sheet pile shoring system to allow excavation for the Transitway Tunnel.
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Transitway Construction
Preparation for the construction of the Transitway began in 2009 with the reconstruction and realignment of Donald Street, McMillan Avenue, and Stradbrook Avenue. Construction of a land drainage system and pumping station beside the CN Fort Rouge Yards was completed. A railway detour of the CN main line tracks was put in place to enable the tunnel construction to start in January 2010.
In the fall of the 2009, construction began on the portion of the Transitway adjacent to Donald Street between Osborne Street and Lagopolous Way (near Stradbrook). Construction on the Transitway will continue in 2010 and will be completed in 2011.
(Looking south from top of apartment building at Donald & Stradbrook) View of reconstructed and reconfigured Donald Street which creates space for the Transitway to run between Donald Street and the CN railway tracks.
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2009 Construction Activities
Donald Street and Stradbrook Avenue Construction
The realignment and reconstruction of Donald Street and Stradbrook Avenue has begun.
Donald Street will be relocated one lane to the west to accommodate the Transitway which will be constructed between the repositioned Donald Street and the CN main line. As part of this work, the sidewalk on the west side of Donald will be moved, overhead streetlights will be repositioned, and access to several side streets along Donald will require adjustments.
Stradbrook Avenue will be realigned and reconstructed in the vicinity of Harkness Street to accommodate the Transitway and a new station. This work will result in Stradbrook being repositioned slightly north of its present location and the intersection of Stradbrook and Harkness being reconfigured.
This work will be undertaken in stages to allow two lanes of traffic in each direction to be maintained. Minor disruptions may occur during off peak periods. Reconstruction of the existing streets is expected to be completed by November 2009 so that construction of the Transitway can begin in 2010.
Street excavation on Donald Street at McMillan (Looking Northwest)
Construction on Stradbrook at Harkness (Looking Northeast)
Pumping Station
Construction has begun on the pumping station. This station will be used to drain the Transitway tunnel that will be built under the CN rail yards in 2010.
Steel sheet piling shoring system to allow construction of the pumping station. Steel sheets reach a depth of 13 meters.
A crane drives the steel sheet piles into the ground.
Graphic representation of completed pumping station.
Land Drainage Works
Work continues on the installation of the gravity fed land drainage system required for the Transitway tunnel, the southern part of the Transitway, and potential future development in the Fort Rouge Yards.
Construction commenced in May 2009 and the work is expected to be completed by late 2009.
Underground land drainage is being installed under the roadway at the Fort Rouge Transit Base using a technique called Incremental Jacking.
Installation of the drainage pipe in the Fort Rouge Yards using an Open Cut technique.
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Moving the drainage pipes in the Fort Rouge Yards. The pipes internal diameter varies from 750 mm to 1350 mm depending on where along the drainage line they are installed.