Work on huge Mississauga transit project focuses on concrete and creek beds

Work crews on the Mississauga-Brampton Hurontario light rail transit (LRT) project are focusing on concrete and creek beds these days.

As work continues on the the 18-kilometre LRT route, which when completed in fall 2024 will take passengers from Port Credit GO in the south all the way north into Brampton, crews are concentrating efforts in south Mississauga.

Specifically, they’re pouring concrete at Port Credit GO station, which will be the southernmost point on the route, and doing work at nearby Mary Fix Creek to protect and enhance the natural area.

“Pouring concrete is one of those things that can be tricky in the cold,” say officials with Metrolinx, the provincial agency in charge of the public transit project.

Special pumps are used to cure concrete in the “unpredictable March weather,” they add.

Crews are making progress on the southern side of the future Port Credit LRT station, which will connect customers to the Lakeshore West GO Line. (Photo: Metrolinx)

At Mary Fix Creek, meanwhile, Metrolinx says “workers are expanding and revitalizing the creek bed as part of the project. The creek provides flood protection and prevents erosion in the Port Credit area.”

When work on the creek is completed, crews will replant more trees “in order to enhance local biodiversity, as part of Metrolinx’s landscape plan,” officials say.

As the lone underground stop on the route, Port Credit GO saw a significant amount of prep work in 2021, and tunneling work continues there this year.

When it opens to riders in a couple of years, the Hazel McCallion Line will feature 19 stops along the route.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced three weeks ago that, when completed, the public transit route will take the name of Mississauga’s former longtime mayor.

In unveiling the Hazel McCallion Line, Ford also voiced support for once again including a City Centre loop in the huge project.

Other work on the Hurontario LRT expected to take place in 2022 includes:

• efforts to further protect the 100-year-old Mary Fix Creek in central Mississauga. Work crews will be upgrading the nearby landscape to preserve the creek and nearby communities, and doing work to reduce the potential for flooding
• existing bridges at Port Credit GO station are being replaced
• the Operations and Maintenance Storage Facility near the Mississauga-Brampton border, to be the hub of the new line, will have LRT tracks laid as it nears completion (facility will house a repair shop, storage area and rail vehicle cleaning services)
• construction of the Hwy. 403 flyover will begin. This involves building a bridge or overpass that crosses over the 403. This will help improve traffic flow by separating the LRT from regular vehicle and bus traffic at one of Mississauga’s busiest interchanges. Will also allow LRT riders to access bus connections on Rathburn Rd.
• crews will begin laying the first set of tracks for the LRT in north Mississauga

The Hurontario LRT will link to GO stations at Port Credit and Cooksville, the Mississauga Transitway, Square One GO Bus Terminal, Brampton Gateway Terminal, and key MiWay and Brampton Transit routes. 

Metrolinx says the initiative is part of its long-term vision for an integrated, sustainable transit network connecting the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.