Major $1.4-billion Mississauga-Brampton transit project hits a milestone
Published July 15, 2022 at 1:44 pm
A $1.4-billion Mississauga-Brampton light rail transit (LRT) project has reached another milestone as construction continues towards a fall 2024 completion date.
Metrolinx, the provincial agency overseeing the 18-kilometre Hazel McCallion LRT that will run along Hurontario St. from south Mississauga north into Brampton, said today (July 15) in a news release that “guideway construction” along the major road is now in the works.
The guideway, project officials say, is the bed for the rail tracks.
“This marks an important step for the LRT line,” a Metrolinx official said, adding the subsequent laying of tracks will mark yet another pivotal part of construction.
Guideway work will progress from south to north, beginning between Matheson Blvd. and Britannia Rd., Metrolinx says.
“Installing tracks along the roadway isn’t as easy as affixing rails to the ground. Crews first need to dig the roadway up, then dig down as deep as five feet before installing the foundation of the guideway,” said Bernard Sharpe, director of track works for the Hazel McCallion LRT. “Once the foundation is installed, the guideway will be backfilled and topped with a concrete slab, followed by installation of the tracks.”
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Key areas where guideway construction is already complete include along Hurontario St. from Bristol to Britannia Rds. and at the Operations, Maintenance and Storage facility on the Mississauga-Brampton border. So far, more than 15 metres of track has been laid in the storage facility yard.
At these locations, track work is happening on the roadway between intersections (also known as mid-blocks) before progressing to the intersections. Mid-block work has minimal impact on pedestrians and traffic flows at intersections, so it’s business as usual, work crews say.
Once work begins at intersections, there will be east-west road closures and detours for motorists and transit, Metrolinx adds.
In late June, Metrolinx launched a major public information campaign targeting residents, business owners and others who have questions about the massive project.
Metrolinx has sent out an “engagement team” and plans on using pop-up events throughout the summer to provide people along the Hurontario St. corridor with as much information as possible.
Starting at Port Credit GO station, the LRT is planned to include 19 stops before arriving in Brampton. However, City of Mississauga officials are aggressively pushing for reinstatement of initial plans to create an “LRT loop” that would more directly and conveniently serve condo residents and office workers in the city’s downtown core around Square One.
