Another delay on Eglinton Crosstown LRT project has officials wondering when line will finally be complete

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT project faces another delay.

Metrolinx

Word problems usually come with multiple choice answers, but in the case of Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, the only option appears to be of the fill-in-the-blank variety.

The project, which has been taxed with delays since construction began back in 2011, is being pushed back again, and officials are not clear of the new deadline.

“We had expected the Eglinton Crosstown LRT to be fully built, thoroughly tested, and in service this fall in accordance with our project agreement with Crosslinx Transit Solutions,” Metrolinx President and CEO Phil Verster said. “Unfortunately, while progress has been made, Crosslinx Transit Solutions have fallen behind schedule, are unable finalize construction and testing, and therefore the system will not be operational on this timeline.”

Crosslinx Transit Solutions is a joint venture that includes Aecon Group Inc., the ACS Infrastructure Canada, EllisDon, and the SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.

The COVID-19 pandemic and contract issues are just two of the reasons behind a long line of delays on the project.

A structural defect at the Eglinton Line 1 station caused the most recent delay in 2021, after which Crosslinx Transit Solutions reset the completion date to September 2022.

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