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Early Works

The Ontario Line - Early Works: Corktown Station


Ontario Line trains will be below ground at Corktown Station, which will require tunnel boring through the future corridor. The Corktown Station site has been identified as the launch site for the tunnel excavation equipment to complete tunnels and underground station spaces for the downtown and Don Yard segments and construction of the Corktown Station.

In accordance with Ontario Regulation 341/20: Ontario Line Project (O. Reg 341/20), under the Environmental Assessment Act, early works are any components of the Ontario Line Project that Metrolinx proposes to proceed with before the completion of the Ontario Line assessment process, such as station construction, rail corridor expansion, utility relocation or bridge replacement or expansion. Corktown Station early works include demolition of existing buildings, removal of structures and asphalt, decommissioning of utilities and soil removal and/or remediation where required. These early works will set the groundwork for other major construction, reducing risk of delays to the overall Project by completing this preparatory work on an expedited basis in advance of the main contracts.

The Corktown Station Early Works Report outlines the purpose of early works, a description of local environmental conditions, potential impacts, proposed mitigation measures and a record of consultation.

View the Full Early Works Report

Aerial view of the Corktown Station early works site (project footprint)

Aerial view of the Corktown Station early works site (project footprint).

Source: City of Toronto (n.d.a): Available through: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/venues-facilities-bookings/book....

 

The First Parliament Site, located within the Corktown Station early works project footprint, is a known archaeological site which requires additional archaeological studies ahead of any ground disturbance activities. Artifacts from Indigenous Nations, remains of Upper Canada’s First and Second Parliament Buildings and remnants of early Toronto industry may be found here. Metrolinx is eager to unlock the potential of the site and work with the City of Toronto, Indigenous Nations and specifically the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, on whose treaty territory the First Parliament Site is located, and the community to identify opportunities for commemoration. Initial archaeological and environmental investigations are underway.

More information about archaeological potential within the Corktown Station early works study area can be found here.

View of Corktown Station early works project footprint, including the First Parliament Site which is currently home to a car dealership, car wash and surface parking

View of Corktown Station early works project footprint, including the First Parliament Site which is currently home to a car dealership, car wash and surface parking.
Source: Metrolinx, 2021.

Corktown Station early works include demolition of existing buildings, removal of other structures and asphalt, decommissioning of utilities, soil removal and/or remediation where required, within the Corktown Station early works project footprint. These activities will allow for the completion of environmental due diligence investigations, including archaeological assessments. Assessment of project operations and construction of Corktown Station and other project components will be documented in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report in accordance with Section 15 of Ontario Regulation 341/20: Ontario Line Project.

This image is a map that shows the area in Toronto where early works construction will take place for the future Ontario Line Corktown station. The area pictured in the map is bound by King Street to the north, Princess Street to the west, The Esplanade and Mill Street to the south (The Esplanade is on the southwest side and Mill Street is on the southeast side), and Trinity Street to the east.</p> <p>There are black bounding boxes that indicate where early works components will be located within this area. The north early works section is bound by King Street to the north, Berkeley Street to the west, Front Street East to the south, and Parliament Street to the east. The south early works section is bound by Front Street East to the north, Berkeley Street to the west, and Parliament Street to the east. The south border of this section does not align with a street name, but is the southern boundary of the lot.</p> <p>Within the north and south early works areas, yellow boxes indicate certain buildings that will need to be demolished for early works construction.

Environmental impacts of Corktown Station early works are being assessed in accordance with Ontario Regulation 341/20: Ontario Line Project (O. Reg. 341/20), under the Environmental Assessment Act. The early works assessment process includes the following:

  • Reviewing and examining early works components and activities
  • Understanding local environmental conditions through desktop reviews and field studies
  • Assessing and evaluating potential impacts that early works components and activities may have on the environment
  • Proposing mitigation measures to avoid or reduce impacts and monitoring activities to verify effectiveness of mitigation measures
  • Determining any municipal, provincial, federal or other permits and approvals that may be required as planning progresses

The Draft Corktown Station Early Works Report provides the following:

  • A description of the early works, including a description of the alternatives considered
  • A map showing the site of the early works
  • The rationale for proceeding with the early works and a summary of background information
  • A description of the local environmental conditions at the site of the early works
  • A description of all studies undertaken
  • Metrolinx’s assessment and evaluation of the impacts that the preferred method of carrying out the early works and other methods might have on the environment, and Metrolinx’s criteria for assessment and evaluation of those impacts
  • A description of any measures proposed by Metrolinx for mitigating any negative impacts that the preferred method of carrying out the early works might have on the environment
  • A description of the means Metrolinx proposes to use to monitor or verify the effectiveness of mitigation measures proposed
  • A description of any municipal, provincial, federal or other approvals or permits that may be required for the early works
  • A consultation record