The Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (ECLRT) is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Canadian history. Stretching 19.7 kilometres across Toronto, including a 10-kilometre underground section, the Crosstown will deliver 25 new stations and stops and connect directly with subway, bus, and GO Transit services. Once complete, it will transform how people move across the city; cutting commute times, reducing congestion, and creating a cleaner, more connected future.
Construction of the Crosstown began in 2011, with much of the early work happening below ground. Using sequential excavation techniques and sprayed concrete lining, Crosslinx constructed new stations and crossover tunnels, while open cut methods were used to build entrances and access points.
In March 2018, the project reached a visible milestone with the start of construction at the Kennedy Portal, the last of five portals connecting the underground and surface sections. Here, medians were removed along Eglinton Avenue East to prepare for track installation, a step that marked the transition from tunnelling to surface rail works.
For WJ Canada, the Crosstown has been a defining project. Since launching our Canadian operations in 2016, we have been integral to supporting its most challenging stages. Our scope has included:
Hydrogeological investigations – detailed pumping tests and groundwater studies across the alignment, providing critical data to guide design.
These contributions ensured that excavation, tunnelling, and intervention works could be completed safely, on time, and with confidence.
Building a project of this scale along one of Toronto’s busiest corridors required careful planning and adaptability. At key stages; such as the Kennedy Portal and surface works between Victoria Park and Ionview, traffic and access had to be reconfigured to keep the city moving.
“Despite the massive amount of concurrent work required to construct the surface section, we’re remaining strong in our commitment to keep everyone moving as we build the Crosstown,” said Winson Chan, Traffic and Transit Engineer.
WJ’s expertise in precision groundwater management allowed contractors to move forward with excavation and tunnelling without delay, helping safeguard timelines on a project where coordination across dozens of active sites was critical.
The Crosstown will deliver lasting benefits, including ten new surface stops, faster connections across midtown Toronto, and more sustainable streetscapes featuring green track sections where vegetation will grow between rails. Approved extensions will expand service to Toronto Pearson International Airport and the University of Toronto Scarborough, extending the impact of the line across the region.
At WJ Canada, we don’t just install dewatering systems, we deliver engineering certainty. On the Eglinton Crosstown, our expertise ensured that some of the most technically demanding aspects of construction could move forward smoothly.
With major construction now complete and final testing underway, the Crosstown is preparing to open to passengers in 2025. WJ is proud to have played a role in delivering this city-shaping project and to continue shaping the future of Canadian infrastructure.
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