GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[Northern Light]

Does anyone want to venture info on why Mx is tendering this?

Meadowvale, w/e..... but aren't we set to close Etobicoke North as soon as next year when Woodbine opens? Why would spend money on its parking lot?

 

[crs1026]

Does anyone want to venture info on why Mx is tendering this?

View attachment 673143

Meadowvale, w/e..... but aren't we set to close Etobicoke North as soon as next year when Woodbine opens? Why would spend money on its parking lot?

I agree that end to end repaving at E/N makes no sense.... but......Without knowing the scope of what's intended - a) I'm dubious about Woodbine opening next year, and given current condition possibly some patches at Etobicoke North may be needed to bridge the gap....plus, b) how much prep work at E/N will be needed to cut in the tunnels and trackage in its eventual form prior to Woodbine opening.... the E/N platform may get shortened or moved or evolve (similar to Long Branch and others) while that construction is happening?

Just guesses

- Paul

PS c) I'm quite uninformed about what is being worked on south-east of Islington, but there is certainly work happening there - may be ML construction activity needed there that is loosely termed Etobicoke North?

 

[nfitz]

a) I'm dubious about Woodbine opening next year ...

Next year? Have they started construction? I was dubious about next decade!

 

[urbancog]

Do you mean this area:

If so, it's construction of a Logistics Hub for GO Expansion.
Fact Sheet
Construction Notice from May 2025

I haven't seen a layout drawing but looking at the excavation, it's possible that there will 1 or 2 tracks at the Kitchener corridor level, then a retaining wall with crane(s) lowering materials from a yard at a higher level.

 

[johntauren]

Next year? Have they started construction? I was dubious about next decade!

There's been initial construction on the Racetrack property where the station will be for a few months now but nothing substantial yet.

 

[crs1026]

Next year? Have they started construction? I was dubious about next decade!

So far they have begun grading the site, it's starting to look like there are drains etc going in for the parking lot, and other utilities being moved around. No work on foundations etc for the station itself.

Beyond the station, they will need to bring the tracks through the new tunnels under the 401/409. It will be interesting to see how Resources Road gets squeezed into that area. As noted, the spot where the logistics yard is planned is at an entirely different grade than the main line tracks. How all that fits together will be interesting.

- Paul

 

[nfitz]

Beyond the station, they will need to bring the tracks through the new tunnels under the 401/409. It will be interesting to see how Resources Road gets squeezed into that area. As noted, the spot where the logistics yard is planned is at an entirely different grade than the main line tracks. How all that fits together will be interesting.

It will be. Though Resources Road seem to encroach into the rail right-of-way, so it might be as simple for Metrolinx as simply ripping up the road, and letting the city sort out their own mess.

I'd think there's a way to rebuild the existing Resources Road with Eglinton so that it's only a T-junction with a roadway to a rather complex set of turn lanes.

Hmm, I wonder if just one big roundabout might work there. Maybe something sort of like this on the M80 in Scotland.

 

[smallspy]

- Paul

PS c) I'm quite uninformed about what is being worked on south-east of Islington, but there is certainly work happening there - may be ML construction activity needed there that is loosely termed Etobicoke North?

That site was originally purchased for the use of a maintenance facility by UPX equipment. More recently, it has been repurposed to become one of several MOW sites to handle ongoing work around the system.

Dan

 

[jcam]

It will be. Though Resources Road seem to encroach into the rail right-of-way, so it might be as simple for Metrolinx as simply ripping up the road, and letting the city sort out their own mess.

I'd think there's a way to rebuild the existing Resources Road with Eglinton so that it's only a T-junction with a roadway to a rather complex set of turn lanes.

Hmm, I wonder if just one big roundabout might work there. Maybe something sort of like this on the M80 in Scotland.
View attachment 673191

Because the new data centre (Microsoft I think) needs the access road, my guess would be the tracks are re-aligned as follows, and they cut out the embankment on the other side of the support pier (to mirror the road).

 

[nfitz]

Because the new data centre (Microsoft I think) needs the access road, my guess would be the tracks are re-aligned as follows, and they cut out the embankment on the other side of the support pier (to mirror the road). View attachment 673241

Still the city's problem I'd think. But surely a concept to deal with the road has been in place for decades. You'd never ddesign it like this these days.

Where is the data centre? If have assumed it would be in one of those vacant buildings on the east side of Islington.

 

[jcam]

Still the city'problem I'd think. But surely a concept to deal with the road has been in place for decades. You'd never ddesign it like this these days.

Where is the data centre? If have assumed it would be in one of those vacant buildings on the east side of Islington.

Data centre is what has replaced the Lowes. It's almost closed in....pretty huge building with large transformers for all the juice required.

 

[crs1026]

Because the new data centre (Microsoft I think) needs the access road, my guess would be the tracks are re-aligned as follows, and they cut out the embankment on the other side of the support pier (to mirror the road).

Seems plausible, assuming the south passage under the bridge is roughed in as a track space and just needs to be excavated. But I wonder about the geometry of the new north track (T0) and current T1 which have to zig to connect to the 401 tunnels. A more straight line route might be possible if Resources Road wasn't in the way. Hopefully this is not a speed restricted wiggle for express trains.

- Paul

 

[nfitz]

Data centre is what has replaced the Lowes. It's almost closed in....pretty huge building with large transformers for all the juice required.

I don't see why that would be any different than any of the other buildings in that area - including the Ontario Ministry's of Health and the Environment.

 

[reaperexpress]

Still the city'problem I'd think. But surely a concept to deal with the road has been in place for decades. You'd never ddesign it like this these days.

Yes the whole area was designed more than a decade ago when they were planning the Georgetown South expansion project.

See this post:

The quad track segment that they built last year is from just east of Islington to just south of Weston Station.

The segment west of Islington will be part of a completely separate project which involves demolishing Etobicoke North station and realigning the tracks to use the new tunnels. Under Islington the plan is to use the space under road overpass to the south of the southern support pillars.

Extract from Metrolinx OnCorridor Public Information Centre #3 Draft conceptual design roll plans, November 2020:

View attachment 532241

This post:

Got it, looks like they'll build a new retaining wall and put it south of the columns...a mirror of where the road is on the other side. Explains why the deck won't be impacted.
View attachment 532386

And this post:

The existing tunnel has a speed restriction due to low clearance. Reducing it to 2 tracks will eliminate the speed restriction.

There is not enough space for 4 tracks under Islington with the existing grading. They need to build a retaining wall on the south side of the underpass to fit the south track under the existing structure.

 

[crs1026]

Apropos of nothing - I happened to make a trip to Aurora on the Barrie line today, and was pleasantly surprised by the level of mobilisation and work being accomplished along this route, in particular the amount of effort and money going to prepare the line for double tracking.
I saw nothing that looked ready for implementaton, but in its usual hodge podge way, ML is clearly doing a lot of the serious preliminary work, ie grubbing, grading, drainage improvement, and utility/telco installation. Made me wonder if this route is the tortoise while the LSE/Ontario Line work is the more visible hare.
My only disappointment is the amount of solid sound wall installation… the Barrie line always had plenty of charming rural scenery, and it is being transformed into a ride that’s about as visually appealing as the Line 2 subway. I guess that’s a fair trade for a good 2WAD service.
Sure wish that the Kitchener line was showing this level of active expansion.

- Paul