Two European firms win $4.3B contract to build Ontario Line's downtown tunnel

Two European construction firms have won a $4.32 billion contract to build a critical section of Toronto's Ontario Line — the tunnels and stations that will connect the planned rapid transit line to the TTC's Line 2 subway at Pape station.

Webuild Group, based in Italy, and FCC Canada Ltd., a subsidiary of Spain's FCC Construcción, will jointly build three kilometres of twin tunnels and two underground stations — Pape and Cosburn — as part of the Pape Tunnel and Underground Stations project. Infrastructure Ontario said construction is set to begin as the joint venture enters its execution phase.

The Ontario Line is a 15.6-kilometre rapid transit line planned to run between 15 stations and connect with more than 40 other transit points across the city. Once completed, the line is expected to bring rapid transit within a 10-minute walk of over 200,000 people. The line is expected to open in the early 2030s, according to Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay.

Webuild Group is also part of Connect 6ix, a consortium awarded a $9 billion contract in 2022 by Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx. Under that deal, Webuild will supply trains and technological systems for the Ontario Line.

The Pape station connection is one of the most complex parts of the project — the new tunnels will run beneath the existing TTC Pape station on Line 2, requiring precision engineering to avoid disrupting service on one of the city's busiest subway lines during construction. As HighOnCity reported in June, construction on the Ontario Line has already become visible at Exhibition Station this summer.