Ontario Construction News staff writer
Two major infrastructure projects along Metrolinx’s Lakeshore West rail corridor have reached significant construction milestones as improvements designed to boost safety and reduce delays continue.
According to a project update on EllisDon’s website, construction teams have completed key rail transitions at both the Burloak Grade Separation project and Long Branch GO Station, allowing trains to begin operating on permanent infrastructure while crews advance work on new road, station and tunnel improvements.
“Delivering these milestones under live rail conditions is a testament to the planning, coordination, and commitment of our teams and partners,” said Cameron Coleman, senior communications manager with EllisDon. “At both Burloak and Long Branch, success meant getting it right the first time, ensuring the infrastructure performs exactly as intended from the moment it goes into service.”
At Burloak, work continues to transform an at-grade railway crossing into a grade-separated underpass that will allow vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians to travel beneath the rail corridor rather than waiting for passing trains.
Once completed, the underpass is expected to eliminate traffic backups at the crossing while improving safety and providing a more reliable connection for residents and commuters travelling between Oakville and Burlington.
The latest milestone came as trains were shifted onto their permanent track alignment, allowing crews to begin major construction beneath the railway. With the rail transition complete, work on the underpass can now move forward, bringing the project closer to completion.
Further east, construction at Long Branch GO Station has also reached an important turning point.
Crews have successfully transitioned trains from temporary support structures onto permanent railway infrastructure, clearing the way for construction of a new pedestrian tunnel beneath the tracks and continued station improvements.
The work was completed during carefully planned weekend rail closures, with train service restored before the start of each Monday morning commute.
Project officials said the transition required extensive planning and precise execution to ensure uninterrupted service along one of GO Transit’s busiest rail lines.
With permanent tracks now in place, construction can continue on the station, tunnel and surrounding infrastructure.
Together, the milestones represent more than construction achievements. They move two of the Lakeshore West corridor’s most complex projects into their next phases while supporting Metrolinx’s broader goal of building a more reliable and resilient regional transit network.
Once complete, the improvements are expected to provide safer crossings, fewer traffic delays and more dependable rail service for the thousands of commuters who travel the corridor each day, while supporting future population and employment growth across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
