26/06/2025
Soletanche Bachy Canada contributes to a new subway project in Toronto
News | Non classé | Project
Soletanche Bachy Canada was awarded the support of excavation works contract for two stations of the Ontario Line project, Moss Park and Corktown. The Ontario Line project will bring nearly 230,000 people within walking distance of fast, less carbon-intensive and convenient public transit.
A transit project for the future
The Ontario Line is a 15.6-kilometre stand-alone rapid transit line connecting the Ontario Science Centre to Exhibition/Ontario Place, passing through the heart of downtown Toronto. More than half of the route will run underground through newly constructed tunnels, while the rest will follow elevated and at-grade rail corridors. The project includes 15 proposed stations, offering multiple connections to the broader transit network.
Construction of Ontario Line stations has begun in the southern section of the route, with teams preparing sites for safe excavation and tunneling. This is where Soletanche Bachy Canada plays a key role.
Thanks to early-stage cooperation with our client, Ontario Transit Group (OTG)—a joint venture between Ferrovial Construction and VINCI Construction Grands Projets — Soletanche Bachy Canada was awarded the support of excavation works contract for two stations, Moss Park and Corktown.
Both sites presented significant challenges typical of construction in a dense urban environment, including limited work areas, utility relocations, and the logistical difficulties of material supply. Additionally, strict adherence to high health and safety standards was essential to ensure the well-being not only of our workers but also of the surrounding community.
Moss Park station – Chasing records
The Ontario Line station at Moss Park will connect a dense and rapidly growing area of the city to the subway network. An estimated 7,300 people are expected to use Moss Park Station during the busiest travel hour.
The Soletanche Bachy Canada team started with the construction of the secant pile wall, enclosing a 341-meter perimeter for the future station. This involved installing 408 cased bored piles, each 1180 mm in diameter, with a total length exceeding 5,400 linear meters. Despite increasing competition among contractors working on other stations, the Moss Park team set a daily drilling record for the entire Ontario Line as they neared completion of the piling works.
As part of Soletanche Bachy Canada’s scope, the project also included the fabrication and installation of a three-level steel bracing system. The site team successfully tackled the challenge of installing 700,000 kg of struts and walers, managing timed site deliveries, precise lifting procedures, and worker-level expertise. Additionally, the team developed detailed 3D model to identify and address constructability constraints. This model allowed for early detection of potential clashes, optimized sequencing of steel installation, and improved coordination among stakeholders.
Since the pile wall will remain fully exposed, 220 toe-anchors were installed using a low-headroom anchor rig.
Corktown Station – Dealing with ice age remains
The Ontario Line station at Corktown will improve access to this growing neighborhood and the nearby Distillery District, a well-known cultural and historic destination.
Corktown Station features two separate shafts, where Soletanche Bachy Canada completed the secant pile wall along a 379-meter perimeter. This involved installing 462 cased bored piles, ranging from 1,000 mm to 1,180 mm in diameter, with a total length exceeding 6,000 linear meters.
During the piling works, the team encountered numerous granite boulders within the glacial till deposit, a geological remnant from the final retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet.
Respect for tradition and care for the future
Our project site holds significant historical value, as Corktown Station will be located near the site of Upper Canada’s first Parliament Buildings, completed in 1797.
In line with VINCI’s sustainability goals, the piling works for both stations were carried out using low-cement-content concrete and biodiesel for the machinery available on the market. By 2041, the Ontario Line is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14,000 tonnes annually and cut overall fuel consumption by more than seven million liters each year – the equivalent of nearly 120,000 fill-ups at the pump per year.
Thanks to Soletanche Bachy Canada’s timely completion of work, cut-and-cover excavation continues this year at both Moss Park and Corktown, where crews are digging up to 40 meters below the surface in preparation for the arrival of the new TBMs. The full project is expected to be complete by 2031.
