PHOTOS: A look back at the Hurontario LRT’s development over the past year
Published December 29, 2020 at 12:16 am
While 2020 has been an admittedly unproductive year for many of us (for obvious reasons), it wasn’t for the Hurontario LRT — the $1 billion, 18-kilometre light rail transit line that will stretch from Port Credit in Mississauga all the way to Brampton.
Metrolinx decided to take a look back at its development over the past year and offer a little bit of insight into what we can expect in the future.
Metrolinx says they’ve been steadily working along the corridor and moving utilities to make way for the new transit line –a significant undertaking that involved coordinating and executing 46 projects, including the relocation of approximately 22 km of hydro cable, 11 km of new gas mains and 28 km of new telecom cables along the street side.
These utility relocations are complete and combined equal about the impressive length of 650 football fields.
Major construction began last spring for the Operations, Maintenance and Storage Facility (OMSF) in Brampton, which included borehole investigation, demolition of a vacant residential farmhouse, removal of a septic tank and underground water cistern, removal of miscellaneous debris, trees, and general site grading and fencing. Crews also began installation of protective environmental measures which included a water runoff pond.
“Other construction included development of an access haul road, a temporary parking lot, a laydown area, and office trailers. Site fill and removal of debris was also carried out onsite,” Metrolinx says.
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Site investigations during early works included borehole drilling. Here, crews are prepping for drilling in Brampton. (Metrolinx photo)
Major construction started on the roadway in the summer, with crews removing medians from the centre of Hurontario Street in Mississauga and Brampton. The raised strip of land between opposing traffic lanes was removed and leveled with the road’s surface.
“By removing medians, traffic lanes are able to shift as crews worked on the curb lanes to make room for the new HuLRT guideway. Once the medians were removed, temporary traffic signals were installed to manage the flow of traffic as construction continues.”
Crews working to remove medians along the corridor during the summer. (Metrolinx photo)
Medians are removed near Hwy. 401. (Metrolinx photo)
By the end of fall, crews had constructed foundational columns at the 407-overpass to support future road widening. The expansion will widen the overpass, adding two additional traffic lanes and the LRT right of way to ensure traffic flows smoothly over the 407.
Crews work on widening the overpass at Hwy. 407 and Hurontario. (Metrolinx photo)
Metrolinx says a lot was taken care of in 2020, and the next 12 months will see the Hurontario LRT moving at a fast pace — although just how fast, we’ll have to wait and see.
The project is expected to be complete in Fall 2024.
More information on the Hurontario LRT and updates on its progress are available at Metrolinx’s website.
All images courtesy of Metrolinx
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