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.
 
I took this two nights ago,
20251109_225354.jpg
 
That's a massive amount of progress. For once, I think they might actually complete this on deadline (famous last words!).
a few weeks ago NL said it's looking at least 1.5 years late at this point. so best case scenario is 2032
 
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.

IMG_1321.jpeg

IMG_1323.jpeg


… 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.

whatsapp-image-2025-11-16-at-12-50-12-pm-1-jpeg.696099
 
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.
 
Tbey have a whole office (maybe living quarters?) set up here.

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.

Also, not sure how long they have been there but they installed at least one garage door, so far.

View attachment 719916

View attachment 719915

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.
 
Work has started on the ventilation shaft.
IMG_2337.jpeg

IMG_2335.jpeg


Screenshot 2026-03-17 at 1.08.13 PM.png



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.

osgoodestation_tunnel.jpg


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.

Screenshot 2026-03-17 at 1.25.13 PM.png


- The stairs on the north-west side will be relocated.

Screenshot 2026-03-17 at 1.24.27 PM.png


The new stairs will be about here:
Screenshot 2026-03-17 at 1.30.58 PM.png


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.
 
Last edited:

Back
Top