[mburrrrr]

Can you send a current image, @mburrrrr?

The first picture of post #148 was current.
Some more pictures from Nov 2.

 

[Bordercollie]

When the rail deck is built we won't be able to see it anymore.

Wonder if it's going to be lit?

 

[Allandale25]

Year end post from the Metrolinx USRC East team. Part 1 of 3.

December 23, 2022

Dear USRC-East Resident,

This past year has welcomed improved working conditions. As COVID mandates further relax, many of us have returned to some in person at work capacity. As Metrolinx adopts a more in-person community engagement strategy, we anticipate further activations in communities in which we build and operate. Similar to past years, this USRCE yearend overview provides an update on all projects within the Union Station east rail corridor. Keeping you informed is important to us, and we look
forward to sharing further updates as they become available in 2023.

Union Station Enhancement Project
In early 2022, the Union Station Enhancement Project (USEP) kicked off with a history making Alliance contract model. Construction moved further south to encompass platforms 24, 25, 26 and 27. With platforms 20 and 21 fully open, this past year
witnessed the creation of a construction blockade along the south corridor between Jarvis Street and Union Stations, whereby the removal of demolition material and movement of construction material, as well as the creation of on-site offices were
most noticeable. Excavation works will continue with two new tower cranes now in place that will assist in building the new south platform as well as stairwell and elevator access points next year. Once improvements at Union Station are complete,
GO Transit customers will enjoy wider platforms and more convenient access to and from the concourse levels, as well as increased service levels across the network as trains move through the station faster and more efficiently.

East Track Enhancement Project
In anticipation of the extension of the railway bridges at Jarvis and Sherbourne Streets, much investigative works is underway east of Union Station, particularly at Sherbourne Street and Wilson Yard. This is necessary in advance of Hydro One
Network Infrastructure (HONI) bridge expansion works, with the imminent removal of the Sherbourne Street signal bridge tentatively planned for mid-late 2023. More information will be shared in the New Year.

Union Station Rail Corridor Track Maintenance Work Impacts
2022 saw significant track maintenance work performed in the USRCE. As safety always remains our top priority, some work can be prescheduled while others are needed to remedy emergent safety situations. Although regular state of good repair
includes daily monitoring and corrective response, this year saw successful replacement track at Sherbourne Street Bridge, in particular 300 feet on Track E3 and 600 feet on Track E5, which had not been replaced in almost fifty years.
As this work will continue into 2023, we plan for more replacement along tracks E4 and E6 to include ballast replenishment. The Toronto East Community Engagement Team remains committed in providing you as much advance notice for scheduled
track maintenance as possible and appreciates your ongoing patience and understanding when emergent works arise. As snowfall is to be expected over the next several months, snow clearing operations will be a common occurrence. Should
you have any questions we encourage to you reach us at torontoeast@metrolinx.com for assistance.

 

[Allandale25]

Part 2 of 3.

On-Corridor/GO Expansion
Earlier this year, Metrolinx reached an agreement with ONXpress Transportation Partners, an international team that will deliver the On-Corridor Works project, a key component of the GO Expansion program. After finalizing the partnership, Metrolinx
and ONXpress began a two-year development phase, during which the project scope, design and construction schedules for the project will be finalized. While that work is ongoing, Metrolinx and ONXpress have begun geotechnical investigations
along some sections of the GO rail network to test ground conditions. These investigations support the planning involved in the development phase and will continue into 2023 across many parts of the GO network.

New Generator Project
2022 saw significant work completed on the emergency generator, which is located on the south side, just east of the Scott Street Tower. This generator, along with the new substation in the Bay Street East Teamway was installed to accommodate future expansion of the Union Station Rail Corridor while ensuring that Union Station remains fully and continuously operational and will safeguard Union Station from potential blackout occurrences in future.

Structural Bridge Rehabilitation
As reported last yearend, 2021 saw significant construction on the three heritage bridges at Yonge, Bay and York Streets. Although substantively completed, there remains residual lighting work at Yonge Street, that is tentatively scheduled for early
2023. During the second half of 2022, local residents and motorists have experienced some demolition on the north face of the Yonge Street Bridge, which is attributable to the CIBCSQUARE phase two by Hines Group, that will include a
pedestrian skywalk from a condominium on the east side to the new tower at 141 Bay Street on the west. For information and community impacts associated with the skybridge and CIBCSQUARE construction, please connect with Hines Group directly at community@CIBCSQUARE.com. The upcoming lighting work will be shared as work begins early next year.

Bay Street Overbuild Park
The CIBC Square development which includes two office towers and an overbuild park spanning the GO rail corridor is in full swing. The Overbuild Park will be a public green space situated over the rail corridor at Bay Street. The perimeter glass was
completed, and it was partially opened in June 2022 as part of Phase 1 (81 Bay St. tower) of the project. The Overbuild Park will be fully opened as part of Phase 2 (141 Bay St. tower), at the beginning of 2024. Further updates will be shared into 2023.

Wilson Yard
2022 saw Wilson Yard used for staging and landfill associated with the Union Station Enhancement Project. Community members may have seen equipment and materials moving in and out of this location as the construction efforts surrounding the creation of the south concourse at Union Station is in full swing. The backfill transported from the USEP excavation will facilitate the leveling required to raise this land to be at grade with Don Yard. More information on the USEP impacts on Wilson Yard will be shared as they become available.

 

[Allandale25]

Part 3 of 3.

USRC Signaling System Project Overview
Although signaling work in 2021 may have been more obvious, with the installation of new signal bridge infrastructure at various USRC locations, 2022 continued to be a very active year for this project, as it delivered cable containment and installation efforts aligned with Ontario Line enabling works, as well as Union Station Enhancement construction. 2023 will see continued enabling efforts associated with the southern extensions of the Jarvis and Sherbourne Street bridges. More
information will be shared in 2023 as work is scheduled.

Ontario Line Early Works in USRCE
The Ontario Line, which will bring 15.6 kilometres of much-needed transit service to Toronto, will stretch across the city, from the Ontario Science Centre in the northeast to Exhibition Place in the southwest. The Lower Don Enabling Works Package can be subdivided into three interconnective deliverables: 1) the relocation of GO Transit Lakeshore East and Richmond Hill service tracks to make room for future Ontario Line construction, 2) the relocation of utility infrastructure (e.g., Hydro, signal cabling, etc.) giving room for further enabling works, and 3) construction of a new bridge that will carry two tracks over the Don River and DVP and a tunnel portal to transition the new line from above ground to underground.Over the second half of 2022 neighbouring communities witnessed preliminary works in preparation of future construction. What may not have been evident was the setup of air quality, noise and vibration measurement equipment to ensure we monitor the effects of our work impacts on the community, as well as tree protection in areas along Mill Street and safe handling of heritage rock along the west side of the lower Don River. Residents will have noticed construction crews, equipment, and material deliveries along some residential streets off Mill Street and in the Corktown community. Activities of site preparation, construction fence (hoarding) installation, and excavation have taken place in preparation for utility relocation works associated with the Ontario Line that will take place next year. More information will be shared in 2023.

A Year in Review
2022 demonstrated increased train service aligned to our change in ridership. while projects continued. Metrolinx announced a new GO Expansion partnership with ONXpress and are now looking towards the next steps in building transit today to
meet the needs of tomorrow. We wish to thank our customers for not only their patience and understanding, but more importantly for their continued engagement in our projects. We acknowledge that building better, faster and more reliable rail
transit impacts some more than others. Community Engagement remains committed to improving our communication tactics and welcome your suggestions in what more we can do to ensure you are kept informed. As we look towards additional ways to share our updates and work impacts, we encourage all residents to subscribe to our weekly Toronto East regional e-Newsletter, by clicking here. Your engagement and participation remain key component to our success.

In closing, as we take time to be with our loved ones during this festive season, we take stock of all for which we are thankful this past year and look forward to working with you in the New Year. From all of us at Metrolinx, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Be Safe, be well.

James Burchell
Community Engagement and Issues Specialist
USRC - Toronto East
METROLINX

 

[Allandale25]

 

[DSC]

View attachment 516792

Lower Sherbourne is also partly closed too for its new bridge. In the LS case, there is no northbound traffic at the moment while MX relocate the watermain and I understand they will then close the southbound lanes for work there.

 

[Allandale25]

Jarvis bridge expansion to accommodate more track.

 

[mburrrrr]

Jarvis bridge expansion to accommodate more track.
View attachment 526553

I think this is the crane base pad that was just poured. One at Sherbourne too exact status i’m not sure.

 

[Allandale25]

I think this is the crane base pad that was just poured. One at Sherbourne too exact status i’m not sure.


View attachment 526557

Ah. I wonder what the crane will be used for? Maybe I'll email Metrolinx and ask.

 

[Allandale25]

 

[DSC]

Jarvis bridge expansion to accommodate more track.
View attachment 526553

I was just on Lower Sherbourne and it has the same structures, now complete. An OnTrack engineer was there so we spoke to him.

1. These block thingies are temporary structures.
2. They will pour caissons inside them to support the new bridges and then the blocks will be removed.
3. A new bridge section was arriving - for the equivalent spot @ Cherry (or Parliament?) and was being trucked to the top of the berm. These will rest on the new caissons.
4. The new bridges (or bridge extensions) will support 2 new tracks.

 

[mburrrrr]

What @DSC said but this picture is of Jarvis St. Just now.

 

[Allandale25]

^ would not want to be stuck in that traffic on the Gardiner.

 

[reinventingthewheel]

Here are the two at Sherbourne, taken this evening.