Tunnel boring begins on Eglinton Crosstown light-rail project

Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown light-rail transit (LRT) project marked a milestone this week when tunnel boring began on the future line, Ontario officials announced yesterday.

The first pair of tunnel boring machines will dig the underground portion of the line eastward from Black Creek Drive. A second pair will dig just west of Leslie Street heading west toward Yonge and Eglinton, city officials said in a press release.

The new LRT line will run about 12 miles along Eglinton Avenue and will include up to 25 stations. More than six miles will run underground.

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is the province's largest public transit construction project in more than 50 years. It is expected to enter service by 2020.