The construction of a new, wider bridge over Eastern Avenue has hit a major milestone. 

Crews successfully completed the concrete deck pour for the first half of the bridge. This is an important part of major infrastructure improvements, as part of the East Harbour Transit Hub, that will enable increased GO Train service.  

“This milestone not only reflects our teams' technical capabilities, but also our commitment to safety throughout the construction process,” said Ryan Haick, Early Works Construction Manager for the East Harbour Transit Hub. 

Two pumps were used to pour the concrete over a 16-hour period. During the pour, crews used a screed machine to level and smooth out the concrete and applied pre-soaked burlap to control the moisture content and temperature of the surface.  

The first half of the existing bridge was demolished in July 2023, and the recent deck pour paves the way for installing new rail tracks. Take a behind-the-scenes look at how the deck pour happened below. 

Deck pour by the numbers

• 1,320 cubic metres of concrete – that’s enough to fill more than half an Olympic swimming pool, about 8,800 bathtubs, and roughly 5.5 million coffee mugs
• 690 tons of reinforced steel to build the frame of the bridge deck
• 165 truckloads to deliver the concrete
• 16 hours of continuous concrete pouring using two pumps

What’s next? 

Once the concrete is strong enough, the temporary structures used to support the bridge will be removed.  

Next, crews will conduct waterproofing and backfilling, then proceed with formwork and rebar installations. Then the new section of track will be installed. 

The next milestone for the project is anticipated this winter when trains are diverted onto the bridge. 

A new station in East Harbour 

East Harbour Transit Hub will be an interchange station in Toronto’s east end where you'll be able to connect to GO trains on the Lakeshore East and Stouffville lines, the Ontario Line subway, and future TTC transit. 

Located in Toronto’s Riverdale neighbourhood, the East Harbour Transit Hub will offer enhanced customer amenities once complete including a staffed service centre, modern passenger concourses, and an accessible pick-up and drop-off area. 

These changes will help support future service increases as part of GO Expansion to provide faster, safer, and more accessible transit within Toronto and beyond. 

For more information on the East Harbour Transit Hub, please visit metrolinx.com and follow @GOExpansion on X and Instagram.