TORONTO, Ontario has reached a significant construction milestone on the Ontario Line subway project, with the first tunnel boring machine breaking through to the future King West Station in downtown Toronto.
The breakthrough marks the first time a tunnel boring machine has reached a station along the new 15.6-kilometre subway route. The project is expected to improve transportation across Toronto, reduce congestion and support thousands of construction jobs.
Once operational, the Ontario Line is projected to accommodate nearly 390,000 daily boardings and bring approximately 230,000 additional residents within walking distance of rapid transit.
Ontario Line Tunnel Construction Reaches Key Milestone
The tunnel boring machine, named Libby, began excavation in April 2026 from a launch shaft east of Exhibition Station.
Since then, it has travelled approximately 1.3 kilometres, installing about 780 concrete tunnel lining rings to reinforce the underground passage.
Following its arrival at King West Station, construction crews will conduct maintenance and testing before the machine continues toward the future Chinatown Station.
A second tunnel boring machine, Corkie, is excavating a parallel tunnel and is expected to reach King West Station in December.
“Every kilometre of tunnelling brings us closer to delivering a new subway line that will transform how people travel across Toronto,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “The Ontario Line will expand access to fast, reliable transit, cut commute times and reduce gridlock by taking thousands of cars off the road every day while creating thousands of good-paying jobs during construction.”
King West Station to Improve Downtown Transit Connections
Located at King Street West and Bathurst Street, the future King West Station will serve Toronto’s Fashion District, a major employment and commercial neighbourhood.
Provincial estimates indicate that approximately 27,000 residents and 24,200 jobs will be within walking distance of the station.
During the busiest travel hour, the station is expected to accommodate approximately 5,100 customers, including 2,400 transfers connecting passengers with existing transit services.
These connections will include the Toronto Transit Commission’s 504 King and 511 Bathurst streetcar routes.
“Torontonians want transit that’s fast, reliable and close to home and today’s Ontario Line breakthrough brings that a step closer. King West Station will bring subway service to the heart of the Fashion District, with direct connections to the 504 King and 511 Bathurst streetcars. The City will continue working with the province to keep the Ontario Line moving and make it easier for people to get to work, school and everything our city has to offer.”
— Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto
Ontario Line Expected to Support Jobs and Housing Development
The Ontario Line forms part of the province’s nearly $70-billion public transit investment program, which includes several major subway expansion projects across the Greater Toronto Area.
Construction of the Ontario Line is expected to support approximately 4,700 jobs annually.
The province is also planning a transit-oriented community near King West Station that would deliver nearly 680 new homes.
“This breakthrough at King West Station means real results for the people of Ontario. Through our government’s $236 billion capital plan to build and Protect Ontario, we are planning a transit-oriented community (TOC) at the King-West station which will deliver nearly 680 new homes. Our government’s historic investments in modern subway networks are shaping and connecting communities, supporting economic growth and improving daily life. I welcome this landmark progress on the Ontario Line and remain committed to building the critical infrastructure our province needs for the future.”
— David Piccini, Minister of Infrastructure
Federal and Provincial Governments Advance Transit Investment
The federal government is contributing more than $4 billion toward construction of the Ontario Line.
“The Ontario Line will help to transform the GTA, making it faster and easier for residents to reach home, school or work,” said the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. “By working together, we are building the first new subway line in Toronto in decades, and we are thrilled to see progress continue.”
New Subway Route Aims to Reduce Toronto Commute Times
The completed Ontario Line will connect Exhibition Place with Line 5 Eglinton at Don Valley Station.
According to provincial projections, the subway could reduce crowding by up to 15 per cent along the busiest section of TTC Line 1 between Bloor-Yonge and Wellesley stations.
Some journeys could become as much as 40 minutes shorter.
Earlier construction milestones included work on an elevated guideway and four new stations in Toronto’s east end, expected to improve access to 14,800 jobs.
“After decades without tunnelling under downtown Toronto, the Ontario Line project continues to hit significant milestones every month. Every completed bridge, every excavated station, and every tunnel breakthrough brings us closer to the realizing of a project that Torontonians need and deserve.”
— Michael Lindsay, President and CEO, Metrolinx
The King West breakthrough represents another step toward completing one of Canada’s largest urban transit infrastructure projects, with further tunnelling and station construction continuing across Toronto.
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