Construction at Exhibition GO station is progressing on the north side of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto’s Liberty Village area. Work here, designed by HDR for Metrolinx, is preparing the station to receive more GO service as a part of the ongoing GO Expansion project that will mean more frequent trains and electrification of the Lakeshore West line, as well as adding new platforms for the western terminus for Ontario Line 3, a new subway line now in the early stages of construction. The Ontario Line will run east from here to Toronto’s Leslieville area before turning north to meet Eglinton Line 5 Crosstown at Don Mills Road. With 15 stations in total, it will form a major new transit artery for Toronto.
A unique set of challenges comes with the station’s location in a dense and active area, with an active rail corridor, a busy highway next to it, and adjacency to major venues like BMO Field and Exhibition Place. Modifications to the existing GO station include the installation of a temporary pedestrian bridge, while extensive shoring, piling, and excavation work is underway around it. Atlantic Avenue’s south end closure and the future Liberty New Street are part of the major reconfiguration of the area, while access to the westbound GO platform is maintained exclusively through the overhead bridge, seen in the background below.
A top-down view shows an excavated utility tunnel pit from September, 2024, surrounded by protective fencing. Steel rakers at each corner brace the retaining walls, while wooden formwork and additional shoring materials are visible inside the pit.
Active piling work for the new middle GO platform was well underway in December, 2024, viewed from the ground looking northwest. A red concrete boom arm pours concrete deep into the ground, while overhead, a large mobile crane extends its boom.
Meanwhile, piling forming a rectangular perimeter to support shoring and stabilize the excavation area was completed that month at the future north entrance. Heavy equipment, including green piling rigs and excavators, are onsite, alongside stacks of concrete pipes and construction materials. The work area is organized with fencing and site offices, with BMO Field visible tin the distance o the south at upper left.
Construction crews pour concrete at the north entrance later that month, manoeuvring a red concrete boom arm at its southeast corner.
At the same time, the long excavation zone for the Ontario Line portal and its western tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch shaft is bordered by rows of pylons and concrete barriers. On the left, green fencing closes the construction area to the public. To the right, a GO Train serves the station.
In January, 2025, an aerial view looking west provides a clear view of the divided zones of activity: to the left, GO Transit tracks and platforms run parallel to the Gardiner Expressway, with sections lined by temporary barriers. The piling for the north entrance, completed in December, is evident to the centre-right, forming a defined perimeter for upcoming shoring and foundation work.
The ongoing excavation for the portal and TBM launch point extends towards the east, flanked by safety pylons. The portal, once completed, will serve as the starting point for tunnel boring, enabling the construction of the downtown segment of the line.
With the Ontario Line’s opening is projected for 2031, a recent look along the length of the line highlights early work to deliver a modern new subway to support Toronto’s growing transit needs.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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