Ontario to add new GO Transit track on Toronto bridge

Metrolinx will widen the Dufferin Street Bridge in Toronto to make way for an additional GO Transit track, Metrolinx and Ontario officials announced late last week.

The extra track is needed to increase service on the Barrie GO corridor as part of the GO Regional Express Rail (RER) project, which is aimed at providing faster and more frequent service on the agency's rail network with electrification on core segments.

The bridge expansion project, worth about $8.4 million (in Canadian dollars), was awarded to EllisDon construction company. That project is expected to take a year to complete.

In addition, Metrolinx will work with the city to extend the West Toronto Railpath multi-use trail, which will run along the existing rail corridor. The path will connect cyclists and pedestrians to Dupont Street to just east of Dufferin Street, according to an Ontario Ministry of Transportation press release.

Funding for the bridge expansion project was made available under the Moving Ontario Forward plan, which calls for investing $31.5 billion over ten years in transportation and other infrastructure projects across the province.