Construction milestones are piling on for Metrolinx's new Crosstown LRT, set to connect 19 kilometres of central Toronto with 25 stops and stations upon opening in two years time at a newly-revised date of May, 2022. The line is furthest along in its construction at its western terminal station of Mount Dennis, where vehicles are already running in test mode on elevated guideways and adjacent tunnels. The opposite end of the line at the LRT's future Kennedy Station is in an earlier state of construction. Located a short distance east of Kennedy Road, the underground station—immediately north of the existing subway station—will act as a multi-modal hub with connections to the GO Transit Stouffville Line, the TTC's Bloor Danforth subway and Scarborough RT, as well as the TTC bus terminal serving several local routes. 

2019 marked a big year for the station's construction, with contractor Crosslinx surpassing milestones including the completion of shoring and excavation for station portals, the installation of a second tower crane for station forming, the underpinning of existing Scarborough RT line infrastructure, and the completion of the west portal—where tracks will surface to transition to the line's at-grade section. East of the portal, the trench over the completed tunnel is now being backfilled.

Backfilling above tunnel, facing west on Eglinton towards Kennedy, image by Forum contributor drum118

Beyond that section, recent views into the station's open construction pit show the state of the site and its adjacency to the subway station to the south. Portions of the platform level are now being covered up by the northernmost section of an extended concourse level, offering a rare cross-section view of the station box, as well as new sections of concourse that will connect to the existing station.

Facing west over site of Kennedy Crosstown station, image by Forum contributor drum118

As forming progresses within the station box, elements such as escalators have begun to arrive on site. Two pairs of escalators can be seen just south of the open pit, awaiting their installation while wrapped in white tarps. The area surrounding the escalators is now home to the station's first above-grade forming, where the station's new secondary western entrance and public plaza will be.

Escalators awaiting installation, image by Forum contributor drum118

The Crosstown construction has had to be planned so as not to interfere with existing service at the station. The west-facing view below—captured from the Eglinton Avenue bridge over the GO and RT line—shows a GO train at the station, part of it bridged over the active construction. The temporary bridge area of the site—future home of another station entrance and new GO Transit ticketing building—will eventually rise back to grade and replace the bridge, connecting it all via a concourse extending below the GO station.

GO tracks bridging over open pit, image by Forum contributor drum118

The GO ticketing building is to be one of the four entrances for the enlarged station, along with the main entrance at the southwest corner of Eglinton and Transway Crescent, and two existing TTC and GO entrances serving the current station.

More milestones are expected to be reached this year, including the completion of mass concrete forming, underground station and electrical works, masonry and steel work for the station's connection with GO Transit, completion of a new west-side platform for the GO station, and restoration of surrounding roadways. To facilitate the completion of the new GO platform, the existing west platform will be temporarily relocated starting in June.

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