DavidJamesTO
Active Member
It feels like they went out of their way to make this site as unsightly as possible.
- Thread starter interchange42
- Start date
nightstreak
Senior Member
They seem to be picking up the pace. I walked by tonight and there was a convoy of filled dump trucks leaving the site. I peeked through the open door and it looks like they’re on the verge of reaching Australia. Could not see the bottom of the pit. Jokes aside, in a few weeks they’ll hit bedrock and then the thing is going to get real noisy until around this time next year.
GenerationLee
Senior Member
I took this two nights ago,
nightstreak
Senior Member
It looks like major progress has been made. They're about 40% of the way down. Once they reach bedrock, excavation will be slower (and louder) but I've been told that excavation is now expected to complete in March.
Osgoode Hall site:
Photo: Metrolinx
Osgoode Hall site:
Photo: Metrolinx
Undead
Senior Member
From the weekend:
reinventingthewheel
Active Member
nightstreak
Senior Member
That's a massive amount of progress. For once, I think they might actually complete this on deadline (famous last words!).
generalcanada
Senior Member
a few weeks ago NL said it's looking at least 1.5 years late at this point. so best case scenario is 2032
nightstreak
Senior Member
Looks like the decision has been made. The plan to route people around the construction site through a garden between Osgoode Hall and the soundproof wall… is dead.
Rather than take down a short concrete wall, they erected a 10 foot tall wooden wall to keep people out and instead route pedestrians through the middle of an active construction site, and walk on a painted sidewalk line on University Avenue , manned by 2 full time paid duty cops and flag men — for the next 4-5 years.
… all this to avoid having to rebuild a short wall.
The originally planned path would’ve avoided the construction site entirely as seen in this photo from @Undead where you can see that the path had already been built.
Rather than take down a short concrete wall, they erected a 10 foot tall wooden wall to keep people out and instead route pedestrians through the middle of an active construction site, and walk on a painted sidewalk line on University Avenue , manned by 2 full time paid duty cops and flag men — for the next 4-5 years.
… all this to avoid having to rebuild a short wall.
The originally planned path would’ve avoided the construction site entirely as seen in this photo from @Undead where you can see that the path had already been built.
kotsy
Senior Member
nightstreak
Senior Member
After asking repeatedly, I finally wore them down: How far behind are they at Osgoode station? “Two months”. The original schedule called for excavation completion by end of March. Now it’s end of May.
Honestly, given how behind things seem to have been, 2 months isn’t bad. It was clear how much they were hustling and to catch up in the excavation phase.
I didn’t get an answer for my more important questions: how long will the acoustic tent be up for and when can they begin to restore Osgoode Garden?
The answer to the second question is semi-dependent on The Law Society who will receive funds from Metrolinx to restore the garden but will be responsible for designing and landscaping it. But when will the lands be returned? Nobody wants to give me a date.
Honestly, given how behind things seem to have been, 2 months isn’t bad. It was clear how much they were hustling and to catch up in the excavation phase.
I didn’t get an answer for my more important questions: how long will the acoustic tent be up for and when can they begin to restore Osgoode Garden?
The answer to the second question is semi-dependent on The Law Society who will receive funds from Metrolinx to restore the garden but will be responsible for designing and landscaping it. But when will the lands be returned? Nobody wants to give me a date.
GameOnBrad
Active Member
Tbey have a whole office (maybe living quarters?) set up here. Also, not sure how long they have been there but they installed at least one garage door, so far.
nightstreak
Senior Member
I think you may be right. They’re working around the clock so it’s possible workers are working on long shifts with sleeping breaks.
As excavation wraps up, the pace of trucks has dropped significantly and they’re no longer being serviced on the Queen door and only rarely on the University door.
Most activity has been occurring between the yard where the trailers are and the north door directly across from the yard.
nightstreak
Senior Member
Work has started on the ventilation shaft.
Tunnelling is proceeding under University Avenue to connect the new station entrance on the east side of University to the stairs on the west side. It'll be a wider corridor than the one that is there now. I thought this would be cut and cover but apparently now, they're using the road headers to mine it from within the main access pit to avoid closing University Avenue to traffic for months.
Extra tidbits:
- First confirmation I've heard that the stairs on the very tight south-west sidewalk will close once the new Simcoe St. station opens.
- The stairs on the north-west side will be relocated.
The new stairs will be about here:
I was against disrupting centuries old Osgoode Garden but I'd be up for opening the stairs into Campbell House's grounds instead of the sidewalk. They're underused and not particularly well maintained. Take down the gate to encourage use, curate the garden and add some benches.
- Lastly, excavation at the north site has slipped further. Now looking like late Summer for excavation completion. 3 years from that point to build the new station so Fall 2029 at the earliest before station work wraps up.
Tunnelling is proceeding under University Avenue to connect the new station entrance on the east side of University to the stairs on the west side. It'll be a wider corridor than the one that is there now. I thought this would be cut and cover but apparently now, they're using the road headers to mine it from within the main access pit to avoid closing University Avenue to traffic for months.
Extra tidbits:
- First confirmation I've heard that the stairs on the very tight south-west sidewalk will close once the new Simcoe St. station opens.
- The stairs on the north-west side will be relocated.
The new stairs will be about here:
I was against disrupting centuries old Osgoode Garden but I'd be up for opening the stairs into Campbell House's grounds instead of the sidewalk. They're underused and not particularly well maintained. Take down the gate to encourage use, curate the garden and add some benches.
- Lastly, excavation at the north site has slipped further. Now looking like late Summer for excavation completion. 3 years from that point to build the new station so Fall 2029 at the earliest before station work wraps up.
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