North End Connectors, comprising Aecon, FCC Construcción and Ghella, has secured the tunnel design and construction contract for Toronto’s Yonge North Subway Extension.
The C$1.4bn contract involves the design and construction of approximately 6.3km of twin tunnels, launch and extraction shafts, and the early works construction of headwalls for emergency exit buildings and stations. The scope of work also includes the supply of TBMs, the installation of tunnel liners and other supporting activities.
The Yonge North Subway Extension will extend the TTC’s Line 1 subway service approximately 8km from the existing terminus at Finch Station in Toronto to York Region, serving communities in Markham, Vaughan and Richmond Hill. It will bring 26,000 more people within a 10-minute walk of transit.
Following completion of the design, major tunnelling will begin along with a separate procurement to build the extension’s stations, rail and systems. With recent upgrades at Finch Station now complete to make it easier to connect the existing Line 1 service to the future subway extension, other preparatory work such as utility relocations are under way.
“Together with our partners, we look forward to bringing our expertise in safely and successfully delivering major transit tunnelling projects to connect communities in the Greater Toronto Area while working collaboratively with Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx,” said Thomas Clochard, executive vice-president, civil and nuclear, Aecon Group Inc.
Premier Doug Ford said the Yonge North Subway Extension was a critical part of the C$70bn investment to build public transit across Ontario. The investment also includes the new Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
“As we get shovels in the ground on this critical project, we’re helping keep thousands of workers on the job and we’re building the infrastructure that will boost Ontario’s economy and help thousands of York Region commuters get where they need to go faster and more conveniently,” he said.
Minister of transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria said the Yonge North Subway Extension would revolutionise travel across the region.
“In the face of economic uncertainty and US tariffs that continue to target workers and businesses across the province, we are protecting Ontario’s economy by building the next generation of subway service that will connect Ontarians to thousands of good paying jobs and housing for years to come,” he said.
