Track work begins on Eglinton Crosstown light-rail project

Construction crews have installed the first piece of track for the Eglinton Crosstown light-rail project in the Toronto area.

Workers installed a turnout track that will move vehicles through the future Mount Dennis Station and adjoining light-rail maintenance and storage facility.

To mark the milestone, Ontario's Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca last week visited the site of the station and nearby facility.

Slated to open in 2021, the 11.8-mile Eglinton Crosstown project will connect the Mount Dennis Station in the west with Kennedy Station in the east. The line includes a 6.2-mile underground portion.

"It is exciting to see how far we’ve come since work began in 2011," Del Duca said in a press release. "This investment will provide fast, efficient, and reliable transit for residents, commuters and visitors in Toronto."

When fully operational, the line is expected to serve about 5,500 passengers per hour during peak travel times. The project will cost CA$5.3 billion.

The Eglinton Crosstown project is being delivered using the "alternative financing and procurement" model. Under this method, the public sector establishes the scope and purpose of the project, while the private sector finances and carries out the construction work, according to the project's website.