Will major LRT route open on time in Mississauga? Project leaders aren’t saying just yet
Published December 28, 2023 at 5:58 pm
The $1.4-billion Hazel McCallion Line, an 18-kilometre light-rail transit route that will run between south Mississauga and Brampton when it opens for business, may not be completed by fall 2024 as promised.
Project leaders at Metrolinx, the provincial agency overseeing the massive transit project, have maintained the past several years that the work was on schedule and that the LRT trains would open to riders along Hurontario Street in Peel’s two cities by the latter part of next year.
The undertaking has been said to be on track for “substantial completion” by September/October 2024. That’s a legal term used in building contracts that marks the point when a project is considered sufficiently complete — meaning that only minor, corrective or warranty work remains.
Asked on Thursday afternoon by insauga.com if the major Mississauga/Brampton transit project remains on schedule for a late 2024 completion date, a Metrolinx spokesperson said via email that, “When construction nears completion and we move into the testing and commissioning phase, we will be in a better position to provide a specific opening date.”
Earlier on Thursday, it was reported in the media that the huge project will likely miss its deadline next September for “substantial completion.”
The spokesperson noted that when the LRT route named for Mississauga’s iconic late mayor does open, it will change the face of transit in Peel.
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“Once in service, the 18-kilometre Hazel McCallion Line will bring a new and reliable method of transportation to a rapidly growing region,” the Metrolinx spokesperson wrote. “The new transit system will feature 19 stops, travel through two urban growth centres and connect to major transit systems including GO Transit, the Mississauga Transitway, Brampton Transit, ZUM and MiWay.”
When open to passengers, the Hazel McCallion Line will whisk riders from the Port Credit GO station in south Mississauga all the way north into Brampton, with 19 stops along the way.
Metrolinx also pointed to a number of high points this past year on the project.
“Significant progress was made in 2023 with major civil infrastructure installed, construction of the new bridge at Eaglewood (near Port Credit GO) now complete, Mary Fix Creek (south Mississauga) reconstruction complete and track work completed at 20 of 54 intersections,” project leaders noted. “In a ground-breaking achievement, the project team also installed a ‘push box’ under the Lakeshore West rails creating the passageway through which light-rail vehicles will travel in and out of Port Credit.”
In a recent project update on social media, Metrolinx also said that work is ongoing on a new Highway 407 overpass at Hurontario Street to accommodate both LRT trains and regular traffic.
Map shows the route the Hazel McCallion Line will follow from south Mississauga into Brampton.