TORONTO – The construction of a new section of the Ontario Line in Toronto could force Metrolinx to temporarily close the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) in order to carry out work on an overpass above the highway. 

The Ontario Line project will connect the Don Mills and Eglinton area to Ontario Place, crossing the DVP, Toronto’s east end, and downtown. The line, announced in 2019 as an alternative to the downtown relief line, is expected to be completed in the early 2030s, with current estimated costs exceeding $27 billion, up from the initial $10.9 billion. A major part of the project includes building a new bridge over the DVP for Ontario Line trains to pass.

When asked about the possibility of highway closures, Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay acknowledged on Wednesday, during a press event with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivai Chow (here the full press release), that it could be necessary. “We’ll be working closely with them to co-ordinate those works. Potentially…” and he added: “We will work with all partners to minimize disruption.”

Critics and opposition leaders have expressed concern over the impact on city traffic. Liberal MPP John Fraser said, “That’s going to be a pretty serious thing here in Toronto; they’re going to have to think long and hard about how they do that. Hopefully, that gets planned well. I’m not convinced the government is good at planning those things … we can’t afford for this city to freeze up.” Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles added: “I think Ontarians and Torontonians, in particular, should be very deeply concerned about this,” she said. “Metrolinx has shown us again and again that they can’t get this right, they are not learning lessons of the past.” (source of  the statements: Global News)

The groundbreaking event marked the start of construction for an elevated section running from Don Valley Station to Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park, with additional work at Cosburn Station in the Pape Villa area. According to Lindsay, construction of the civil infrastructure is expected to be completed in the early 2030s, although testing and commissioning phases could delay the line’s actual opening.

The Ontario Line is designed to act as a relief valve for the Yonge/University line, providing an alternative north-south connection and serving new neighborhoods. According to the Ford government, “the Ontario Line is at the centre of our government’s $70 billion plan to build and upgrade transit, helping to fight gridlock and keeping thousands of workers on the job in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty.”

Pic above from Twitter X – @fordnation