Ontario Construction News staff writer
It’s an opportunity to write transit history and leave a mark on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
Construction is currently underway on the project to bring the Eglinton Crosstown LRT another nine kilometres farther west, creating a continuous rapid transit line along Eglinton Avenue from Scarborough all the way to Mississauga. It is expected to cut travel times and help people leave their cars at home by bringing 50,000 more people and 31,000 more jobs within walking distance to transit.
Two tunnel boring machines are set to arrive from Germany in January 2022 and Metrolinx is asking the public to get creative and submit naming ideas.
The winner of the naming contest will have the chance to participate in a photo-op before the TBMs are placed into the ground to start digging.
Before they get started, the massive machines will be travelling from Germany by boat, then by truck to the tunnel launch site.
Here’s how the contest will work:
Phase 1 (open now until Nov. 18)
- submit your name ideas using the submission form below – and remember to submit in pairs, since there are two tunnel boring machines that will be working together! Let us know why you picked your names and what they mean to you.
Phase 2 (launching in November 2021)
- A judging panel will create a short list of names from all the submissions received. The judging panel will choose names based on relevance, rationale and significance to the project and the local area.
- Public will vote on the top picks until Dec. 22, 2021.
The contest is open to submissions from anyone 18 years or older but younger participants are also encouraged to participate with the help of a parent, guardian or teacher. If duplicate name submissions are received, the first person to submit the winning name will be selected as the winner and inappropriate suggestions will be disqualified.