Next Stop: Eglinton Crosstown West Extension

What Is the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension?

The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is a 9.2-kilometre westward expansion of the upcoming Eglinton Crosstown LRT (Line 5). Once completed, it will stretch the line beyond Mount Dennis Station, adding seven new stations and linking Toronto to Renforth Drive, with a future connection to Pearson Airport in the works. This extension is designed to improve connectivity between Etobicoke, Mississauga, and Toronto’s core, offering fast, reliable transit options in some of the region’s most congested corridors.

The project includes a mix of underground and above-ground segments, connecting to TTC bus routes, GO Transit, and MiWay services.

Tunnelling Milestone Reached

In May 2025, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation announced that tunnelling had officially begun on the final segment of the ECWE. This work will carve out the underground portion between Jane Street and Mount Dennis Station, linking it to the existing Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are digging westward from Renforth Drive toward Scarlett Road, while this new phase focuses on completing the eastern connection back to the Line 5 corridor. Once joined, this entire corridor will form a continuous underground and surface route from Kennedy Station to Renforth Drive, dramatically transforming east-west transit.

For more technical details and construction updates, visit the official Metrolinx Crosstown West Extension project page.

Project Benefits

• 9.2 km of new rapid transit
• 7 new stations, including Kipling, Islington, and Royal York
• Faster connections to GO Transit, UP Express, MiWay, and TTC
• Relief to congested bus routes along Eglinton West
• Seamless travel from Pearson Airport to midtown Toronto

Key Stations on the ECWE Will Include:

• Mount Dennis (connection to Line 5, GO, and UP Express)

• Scarlett Road

• Royal York

• Islington

• Martin Grove

• Renforth Drive (future MiWay and GO hub)

• Pearson Airport (planned future extension)

Why It Matters

The ECWE is more than a line extension—it’s a game-changer for west-end transit:

• Brings 37,500 more people within a 10-minute walk of rapid transit

• Shortens travel times across the region (e.g., Yonge & Eglinton to Square One could be 24 minutes faster)

• Connects major employment zones, post-secondary institutions, and future airport service

• Provides direct integration with TTC, MiWay, and GO systems

• Supports climate goals by reducing car trips and emissions

Building Toward a Regional Network

The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is part of a massive $70 billion provincial transit plan—Canada’s most ambitious to date. It reflects a commitment to regional integration, transit equity, and economic growth across the GTA. With connections from Toronto’s core to Mississauga and Pearson Airport, this line represents the future of multi-city mobility.

🛤️ Next Stop is GTA Weekly’s weekly Sunday spotlight on the future of transit in the Greater Toronto Area. From subways to LRTs to GO expansions, we dig into the projects shaping how we move.