GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[lastcommodore]

I may be out of the loop here. Why are they building a bridge around the split off between Kitchener and Barrie and for what purpose? Are they trying to flyover the Barrie line from the east side to the west?

The columns feel too weak to be a mainline rail bridge (though I am not a structural engineer).

 

[milkycontent]

I may be out of the loop here. Why are they building a bridge around the split off between Kitchener and Barrie and for what purpose? Are they trying to flyover the Barrie line from the east side to the west?

The columns feel too weak to be a mainline rail bridge (though I am not a structural engineer).

I believe it's for the cycling and pedestrian bridge for the West Toronto Rail path.

West Toronto Rail Path Extension Nears $200 Million as Start of Construction Delayed Again | UrbanToronto

Mired in its twentieth year of planning, progress on the southern extension of the West Toronto Railpath (WTR) remains stalled. Stretching from Dupont Street in the north to Dundas Street in the south, the former rail line has long been planned to continue southeast to King Street, but so far...

urbantoronto.ca

 

[urbanclient]

West Toronto Rail path.

Given the cost of this boondoggle. It wouldn't be that far off to assume Metrolinx would build you a backyard gazebo for the price as your house.

 

[robmausser]

More angles. We have a column.

View attachment 729637
View attachment 729638

I.LOVE.MAPS

 

[Sauga89]

Metrolinx says there will be lane closures on Sheppard Ave for the next 6 months as part of the work on the Barrie rail corridor and Downsview Park GO. Apparently there will also be a full road closure in October, but the notice doesn't say how many days that closure will last.

From the notice:

Metrolinx crews will be erecting a girder and conducting substructure works for the Barrie GO rail line at the site of the Sheppard Rail Bridge. Works will occur during day (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and night (7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) shifts from Monday to Friday. This work will require lane reductions on Sheppard Avenue for the following periods: One eastbound lane will be closed from May to July 2026. One lane in each direction will be closed from May to September 2026. 1 westbound lane will be closed from July to September 2026. A full road closure of Sheppard Avenue between Vitti Street and Chesswood Drive will occur in October 2026. A detour route will be in place in addition to wayfinding signage.

 

[NoahB]

Has this been posted yet?

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

Year-round, daily round-trip to Stratford on the Kitchener Line announced.
Service will begin July 6, 2026
Edit: Woops, this is the construction thread.

 

[Allandale25]

Not the most detailed picture, but some of the track work taking place this weekend as seen from the pedestrian bridge in Liberty Village.

 

[crs1026]

^So very interesting.
The track panels on the right (northeast) side of those images have been there since 2015, so not new build..
Note that the signal bungalows for the Strachan interlocking sit in the way of where new tracks will be built - ie the new tracks can't be tied in until those bungalows are relocated, no small task. Behind those bungalows, the utility/telecom work is still underway so not ready for track either. So not much hint of progress there.
The yellow track machines are on an existing track but do hint at construction.
The really interesting items are the track panels on the left (southwest) side - they are sitting on top of one of the two active Kitchener line tracks. And the number of white trucks says something is going on.
I wonder what is happening behind the photographer, to the east.

- Paul

 

[reaperexpress]

Not the most detailed picture, but some of the track work taking place this weekend as seen from the pedestrian bridge in Liberty Village.

View attachment 730403
View attachment 730404

Well I sure hope they're working on a Sunday considering they cancelled all the trains this weekend to enable construction...

 

[PShells]

^So very interesting.
The track panels on the right (northeast) side of those images have been there since 2015, so not new build..
Note that the signal bungalows for the Strachan interlocking sit in the way of where new tracks will be built - ie the new tracks can't be tied in until those bungalows are relocated, no small task. Behind those bungalows, the utility/telecom work is still underway so not ready for track either. So not much hint of progress there.
The yellow track machines are on an existing track but do hint at construction.
The really interesting items are the track panels on the left (southwest) side - they are sitting on top of one of the two active Kitchener line tracks. And the number of white trucks says something is going on.
I wonder what is happening behind the photographer, to the east.

- Paul

https://assets.metrolinx.com/raw/upload/Documents/Metrolinx/Construction%20Notices/Daytime%20and%20overnight%20works%20in%20the%20railway%20corridor%20at%20King%20St%20W%20and%20Strachan%20Ave/Daytime%20and%20overnight%20works%20in%20the%20railway%20corridor%20at%20King%20St%20W%20and%20Strachan%20Ave_en.pdf

“From April,17-20 and again from,May 15-18, we will be working within the railway corridor to re-move tracks and stockpiled materials. We will also need to skim the ballast (the stones and materials under the rails and sleepers) and install drainage basins. The Kitchener Line will be closed during these weekends.”

It reads as SOGR work while other construction occurs on the two corridors during the weekend closure.

 

[Allandale25]

^ What is the purpose of skimming the ballast? Is that how they level it? cc @smallspy @crs1026

 

[crs1026]

^ What is the purpose of skimming the ballast? Is that how they level it? cc @smallspy @crs1026

The purpose of "skimming" aka "cleaning" is to remove dirt and fine material from the ballast, leaving only the coarser rock. Over time, the track bed collects soil and other material which clog the ballast, affecting drainage and stability. Think of it like vacuuming a rug.

After cleaning, the track will be tamped, ie resurfaced. A tamper basically lifts and levels the rail (or unlevels it where the track is meant to be superelevated, ie on curves) and stuffs (tamps) ballast underneath the crossties to support the crossties. The tampers have some nifty sensors and processors for track profile data to align the track so it is level and straight. Other track machinery adjusts the ballast to fill in between the crossties and tidy the outsides of the ballasted track.

- Paul

 

[Allandale25]

The purpose of "skimming" aka "cleaning" is to remove dirt and fine material from the ballast, leaving only the coarser rock. Over time, the track bed collects soil and other material which clog the ballast, affecting drainage and stability. Think of it like vacuuming a rug.

After cleaning, the track will be tamped, ie resurfaced. A tamper basically lifts and levels the rail (or unlevels it where the track is meant to be superelevated, ie on curves) and stuffs (tamps) ballast underneath the crossties to support the crossties. The tampers have some nifty sensors and processors for track profile data to align the track so it is level and straight. Other track machinery adjusts the ballast to fill in between the crossties and tidy the outsides of the ballasted track.

- Paul

Thanks!

 

[Sauga89]

Not the most detailed picture, but some of the track work taking place this weekend as seen from the pedestrian bridge in Liberty Village.

View attachment 730403
View attachment 730404

Metrolinx says it will be working on the King Street bridge on the Barrie and Kitchener lines next month as part of the work to add tracks.

View attachment 725828

There is also more work scheduled around the new Woodbine and St. Clair stations.

If this is looking north to King, then they are also supposed to be laying down a concrete beam somewhere as part of the bridge works.