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GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

Given the amount of GO construction projects I can't recall a similar situation. I guess with the proximity to the Credit River it's logical. Will read the study Paul posted. I wonder if a similar situation will arise for the proposed Silver Grade Separation, somewhere between the Credit River and the Mount Pleasant GO station.

I can't see how the original Treaty in itself would create constraints... except that it falls into the same category as others where the Crown commited to pay $X per year in 1808 dollars in exchange for land, and the absolute dollars remain closer to their 1808 values.
The Assessment reports, however, appear to suggest that there are heritage considerations to this exact parcel of land that need further exploration. The proximity to the Credit, which was clearly a transportation corridor from pre-contact Indigenous days, might imply that this land has a past life that needs to be explored before we pave it over. There is also the issue of an adjoining cemetery.
I'm not that knowledgeable about how the depth of archaeology assessment of this EA might compare to other ML EA's. But certainly, ML is doing the right thing by stopping and collecting input, as opposed to pushing ahead.

- Paul
 
New platform at Weston. Taken today.

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I can't see how the original Treaty in itself would create constraints... except that it falls into the same category as others where the Crown commited to pay $X per year in 1808 dollars in exchange for land, and the absolute dollars remain closer to their 1808 values.
The Assessment reports, however, appear to suggest that there are heritage considerations to this exact parcel of land that need further exploration. The proximity to the Credit, which was clearly a transportation corridor from pre-contact Indigenous days, might imply that this land has a past life that needs to be explored before we pave it over. There is also the issue of an adjoining cemetery.
I'm not that knowledgeable about how the depth of archaeology assessment of this EA might compare to other ML EA's. But certainly, ML is doing the right thing by stopping and collecting input, as opposed to pushing ahead.

- Paul

Spoke with City of Brampton staff and was told:

Thank you for your email regarding the status of Metrolinx’s Heritage Road Layover project. City of Brampton staff (Transportation Planning, Transit, Environmental Planning, Environmental Engineering, and Heritage Planning) have been actively involved in this study. We worked with Metrolinx, for example, to have the layover facility shifted a short distance to the west so as to better align with the Secondary Plan established for the Heritage Heights area. Staff agree that the layover facility is important for Brampton, as it would allow for additional GO Rail service to the Mount Pleasant, Brampton and Bramalea stations, and have supported Metrolinx’s work. Staff are aware, and supportive, of the pause in the study to allow Metrolinx to conduct additional consultation with Indigenous Nations. That said, staff will look to have Metrolinx restart and complete the study (and proceed to construction) in a timely fashion.

Thank you also for your comment regarding the Silver Rail Grade Separation. This is not being considered as part of the Heritage Road Layover project. Staff will raise this issue with Metrolinx.
 
Spoke with City of Brampton staff and was told:

Speaking of projects in Brampton, Metrolinx's Peel team staff told me:

The extensions department has been working with the City of Brampton on the planning for their future transit hub and have been sharing concepts of the corridor expansion required to support two-way all-day service to Kitchener. Preliminary planning efforts are in the works and are subject to change through further design development, consultations and agreement with CN. CN crews have been on site collecting survey information on the existing bridge structures to support the ongoing design development efforts.
 
From today's Metrolinx Toronto East email newsletter, various updates. I don't think there is a lot of 'new news' for folks here but it still might be of interest.

Note: I've removed several "click here"/further info click here/learn more/newsletter sign up lines.

Lakeshore East - 416

Lakeshore East West Project (Pape Avenue to Kennedy Road)

The Lakeshore East rail corridor is undergoing preparatory work between Pape Avenue and Kennedy Road. This is divided into three projects:
  • Package C - Pape Avenue to Woodbine Avenue
  • Package B - Woodbine Avenue to Wolcott Avenue (East of Warden Avenue). Package B also includes the widening of the Woodbine Avenue, Warden Avenue, and Danforth Avenue Bridges
  • Package A - Wolcott Avenue to Kennedy Road
In advance of construction, notices were mailed to residences within 500 meters of the job site. These notices are also posted online. Given the large project area, construction is not necessarily taking place across all sections simultaneously. Due to the nature of the construction taking place in an active rail corridor, the timelines are subject to change.

While there may be some variations in design and methods for construction across this section, the work generally follows the same construction stages:
  • Vegetation removal
  • Grading and excavation
  • Drilling for retaining wall H shaped beams (some sections use T-shaped panels manufactured off-site, which do not require drilling)
  • Installation of the retaining wall 'lagging' (which are inserted between the H beams to hold the earth)
  • Electrical work and restoration
Much of this work has to happen at night when trains are not running, but Metrolinx explores opportunities to schedule work during the day where possible.

The bridge work requires the widening of the centre piers and abutments, to accommodate an additional track.

This work is to support GO Expansion, which will deliver more service and electrify the rail corridor.

Below you will find the work schedule, according to the contractors' three-week work plan submissions. Non-intrusive, technical work is not included. Work mentioned is on the north side of the corridor unless otherwise indicated. Please note that some work may be delayed or accelerated, and cannot be accounted for below.

Package A - Wolcott Avenue to Kennedy Road
No work with significant impact is currently scheduled in Package A limits.

Package B - Wolcott Avenue to Woodbine Avenue
Victoria Park Avenue to Main Street (South) - Daytime panel installation will continue throughout August.

Main Street to Woodbine Avenue - This week saw the completion of the drill pad construction. Late next week, concrete barriers will be installed to allow for work to take place during the day. On the week of August 15, piling (drilling) will begin for the retaining wall during the day.

Warden and Danforth Bridges - The bridge centre column work is largely completed. Centre traffic lanes will be re-opened and work on widening the abutments will commence later in the summer.

Package C - Woodbine Avenue to Pape Avenue
Woodbine Avenue to Coxwell Avenue - On the week of August 8, monitoring points will be installed for settlement, which is required for culvert work to begin. Culvert work is expected to begin in October.

Coxwell Avenue to Greenwood Avenue - Next week (August 8), the installation of jersey barriers will continue to allow for daytime excavation. Excavation will begin on August 15 during the day.

Greenwood Avenue to Jones Avenue - Daytime piling for retaining wall 7 has commenced and continues through August. Extra fencing was added at the bottom of the gate as a proactive safety measure, given comments about kids playing on the roadway.

Night Work: Utility Relocations between Pape Avenue and Kennedy Road
To support GO Expansion and the addition of the fourth track for faster, more convenient service, Metrolinx needs to relocate underground utilities within the corridor between Pape Avenue and Kennedy Road.

Utility relocation work is typically short duration and work schedules are often determined on short notice. As such, specific notice for communities is sometimes not possible.

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Eglinton GO Station Parking Lot Parking Lot Impacts
Eglinton GO customers: Since June 2, the next phase of construction at your station has been underway. This will mean approximately 14 parking spots will be converted into a new driving lane at the north end of the south parking lot and the existing driving lane will be used for construction purposes. You can also expect to see a construction crane in the south lot during this time. This work will not change how you access the station.

Please also use extra caution on the north and south platforms, as platforms have been reduced in width during this phase of construction. Please follow the signs and stay clear of the yellow lines. Please use caution when moving around all construction areas. This construction is part of the work to upgrade Eglinton GO Station and make it fully accessible. Thank you for your patience as we work to improve your station.
For more information on the Eglinton GO Station project, click here.

Lakeshore East Corridor Vegetation and Tree Clearing
As part of Metrolinx's GO Expansion Program, crews are clearing and removing some trees and vegetation located within the Lakeshore East Corridor between Kennedy Road and Scarborough Golf Club Road. This work will continue for the next few months.

Borehole Drilling Adjacent to the Lakeshore East Corridor
As part of our investigative work for the GO Expansion program, there will be borehole drilling completed at various locations adjacent to the Lakeshore East corridor (locations shown in the figure above). Most boreholes were completed in early June. On Monday, July 18th, Borehole105-22 will be drilled, and then capped for future groundwater sampling. A separate Construction Notice will be shared before the groundwater sampling work begins in August.

1659734099941.png


Rouge River Bridge Rehabilitation Project
The Rouge River bridge work is in its final stages! The bridge painting work is now complete, along with structural steel repairs on the main truss span. In the coming weeks, crews will be removing scaffolding and progressively demobilizing from the site, followed by restoration work in the area.

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Stouffville Corridor - 416

Agincourt GO Station Pop Ups

As pandemic restraints further relax, the Toronto East Community Team will be popping by GO stations in the region to greet our passengers, but to also listen to their thoughts on our construction as we continue to build a better, faster and more reliable GO Transit rail network. On Wednesday, July 27 staff were at Agincourt GO Station during the morning rush. As these pop up visits continue into the fall, we thank you for your continued patience, understanding and engagement in our work. Hope to see you soon.

Agincourt GO Station Update
Work crews laying sod as the public side at Agincourt GO Station is restored. (Metrolinx photo)
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Crews have recently laid sod along the wall at Agincourt GO Station as the public side is being restored. As we move closer to full opening, more photos will be shared in coming weeks. We thank you for your patience, and adherence to all directional signage while we continue working on important infrastructure to serve you better.

Finch-Kennedy SmartTrack/GO Station Update
Crews will be relocating critical telecommunications infrastructure along Finch Avenue East between Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue and the Stouffville Rail Corridor. Civil work is scheduled to start in late August 2022 and will last approximately 3 months, followed by civil work for approximately 6 months. Work will generally occur between 7 a.m. and 5p.m., Monday to Friday.

This infrastructure is integral to the network feeding your area and must be re-routed to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality and reliable service such as telephone, cable, and Internet. Please note, that work could be rescheduled and delayed due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. for more information, click here to view the construction notice.

Milliken GO Station Platform Update
New staircase and floor finishes at Milliken GO Station. (Metrolinx Photo)
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Work continues at Milliken GO Station, where a new concrete staircase and floor are being finished. Metrolinx contractors and project team are working diligently to complete this work so that we can provide the necessary infrastructure needed to serve you better. We thank you for your ongoing patience and adherence to the directional signage. More photos will be shared in coming weeks.

Richmond Hill - 416

Richmond Hill Corridor Bridges

Work crews will return to significant work on the Don Valley bridges later this year. Community Relations will resume providing information as substantive work is scheduled. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding of this important and necessary rehabilitation work.
 

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Aug 04
Had a look at Bramalea Station and it should be finish by the end of the month.

A small amount of flashing to be place for the west end of the bus terminal as well finishing paving a small section of the new entrance/exit connection to Steeles. The Steeles entrance is close with police on duty at the fence area.

A large area of the parking lot next to the parking structure that has not seen any parking has been plane to allow the top coat to be place. Looks like other areas of the new parking lots still needs a top coat and markings.

Never looked at the new south track being built.

Parking in the structure is still about the same level that I saw over 2 months ago.

Buses leaving the station have a bar system on top of the traffic signals.
 
Establishing this spaghetti network of separated trails will be a good backbone. But We will need way way more in the form of separated bike lanes on the streets.
Saw that in Europe with sidewalks being lost to the cycles. No parking on the street with a single lane of traffic in both direction.
 
Saw that in Europe with sidewalks being lost to the cycles. No parking on the street with a single lane of traffic in both direction.

We can only dream. But if you build it they will come.
Also keep in mind Network Effect. Having a couple of quality bike paths pales in comparison to having a proper bike path on every road that is not purely residential.
 
Aug 8
Shot Milliken today and will this station be completed by the end of the year?

The south temporary platform has been relocated to the centre area over the new track 2, One rail is missing going south to connect to the new track 2 that is ballast and needs to be align. The north side waiting for ties to be place and track added.

Can't believe the new east platform is still not completed considering it been ready over a year.

Work still on going for the walkways over Steeles as well the north stair wells..

No idea when photos will go up as I am still working on June 18 shots along with shots for every day up today shots from then.
 
Milliken (and Agincourt) will not be able to utilise both platforms until the second track can be used, and that depends on widening the bridge over the creek further south. I imagine that the contractor is dawdling on the platform work as their labour is probably needed more somewhere else.
The slow pace of the bridge work is hard to fathom - the contracts were let in what, 2017 ? Only the southerly double track from north ok Kennedy to the new crossovers south of the 401 has any prospect of being used anytime soon.

- Paul
 
Milliken (and Agincourt) will not be able to utilise both platforms until the second track can be used, and that depends on widening the bridge over the creek further south. I imagine that the contractor is dawdling on the platform work as their labour is probably needed more somewhere else.
The slow pace of the bridge work is hard to fathom - the contracts were let in what, 2017 ? Only the southerly double track from north ok Kennedy to the new crossovers south of the 401 has any prospect of being used anytime soon.

- Paul
This (lack of) bridge?
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Milliken (and Agincourt) will not be able to utilise both platforms until the second track can be used, and that depends on widening the bridge over the creek further south. I imagine that the contractor is dawdling on the platform work as their labour is probably needed more somewhere else.
The slow pace of the bridge work is hard to fathom - the contracts were let in what, 2017 ? Only the southerly double track from north ok Kennedy to the new crossovers south of the 401 has any prospect of being used anytime soon.

- Paul


I shared this video here back when I took it in May. I don't think much has changed for the bridge since then, but shockingly the. Agincourt east platform is well over 90% done. They've been pushing to finish it. Probably time to do another drone shot to show the progress and compare from May's video.

It's looking like the platform might be used solely as a way for the Agincourt Drive neighbourhood to access the station once they close off the Marilyn Ave pedestrian crossing. They just poured the sidewalk concrete for the connection from Marilyn to the west platform. Meanwhile they've also pushed to finish the double track work at the station. My guess is the order of events will be east platform complete, close ped crossing, connect double track where the crossing is now. Then we wait forever for that bridge to be done.

As ReaperExpress pointed out with his great timetable work, looks like they can double the frequency with the 401-Kennedy Station section double tracked. Speaking of Kennedy Station, lots of progress made recently on that east platform too.
 
This (lack of) bridge?
This location - where Metrolinx's Uxbridge sub intersects with the start of CP's Havalock sub - would be the location a new rail connection if HFR trains are routed through Kennedy Station rather than down the Don Branch? Perhaps plans are on-hold pending some decision by the Federal Govt's that's driven by their (unnecessarily slow) purchasing process for HFR.
 

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