b'PROJECT PROFILEONE OF THE TWO EGLINTON CROSSTOWN WEST EXTENSION TUNNEL BORING MACHINES DURING FACTORY TESTING IN GERMANY.PHOTO COURTESY OF METROLINXLARGEST CANADIANSUBWAYEXPANSION PLANEGLINTON CROSSTOWN WEST EXPANSION IS UNDERWAY By Matthew BradfordWORK IS UNDERWAY on theThe Eglinton Crosstown West Extensionthroughout the GTAs UP Express, GO largest subway expansion plan inwill bring the Crosstown LRT furtherTransit, TTC and MiWay networks. The Canadas history. This past December,west, creating a continuous LRT linefairly simple rapid transit map people the Ontario government announcedalong Eglinton Avenue, from the east endhave become so familiar with over the it was entering the next stage ofof Toronto into Mississauga, providingyears is getting more intricate, and that development for the Eglinton Crosstownsignificant relief to busy commutes bymeans more connections and more West Extension, a 9.2-km addition to theexpanding transit capacity and cuttingchoice, says Fannie Sunshine, a media equally historic Eglinton Crosstown lighttravel times, says Ian McConachie,representative for Metrolinx. Travelling rail transit (LRT) initiative. manager of media relations andby subway, LRT or BRT will become much communications with easier and more intuitive thanks to this The extension is part of the provincesInfrastructure Ontario.project and others like it.$28.5-billion subway expansion program, the largest of its kind in CanadianOnce complete, the province says theTUNNELLING TO HISTORY history. It will extend the westernextension will facilitate 37,000 boardingsWest End Connectors was awarded the terminus of the Eglinton Crosstown LRTa day by 2041 and put 50,000 more$792.2-million first advanced tunnel project beyond the future Mount Dennispeople within walking distance to transit.contract on May 20, 2021. The scope station and connect it to MississaugaIt will also open up the Greater Torontoof its work includes approximately six Transitways Renforth Station. Area (GTA) by connecting riders to stopskilometres of tunnelling for the LRT 28Quarter 42021 BUILDERSDIGEST'