A key part of Peel Region’s future 18 km light rail transit (LRT) line is coming into focus.

If you’ve driven on Highway 403 near Square One, or passed over the nearby Hurontario Street bridge, you’ve probably noticed the large concrete structures popping up. 

Those are the building blocks for a new elevated guideway that will see trains run overtop the busy highway below. It’s a unique feature of the Hazel McCallion Line project that will run from Port Credit in south Mississauga to Brampton Gateway Terminal at Steeles Avenue, connecting to other transit systems and routes including MiWay, Brampton Transit and GO Transit.

This elevated section of track will connect the future City Centre stop at Rathburn Road and Robert Speck stop at Hurontario Street, providing easy access to this core area of the city.

Recent drone footage offers a stunning perspective on the progress. From above, you can see the guideway stretching over Highway 403, gradually connecting with sections over Rathburn Road and Central View Drive. Each addition is a visible reminder that the Hazel McCallion Line is getting closer to becoming a reality.

The backbone of the bridge

The last of the girders (the horizontal beams that form the backbone of a bridge) were installed over Highway 403 last fall, following the previous girder installation over the eastbound lanes of the highway in the summer. But what exactly are girders, and why are they so important?

Girders are critical components of the bridge’s superstructure, the part responsible for supporting the weight of everything that crosses over. In this case, that means trains for the future LRT line.  

Beneath the girders lies the substructure, made up of piers and abutments that were carefully installed earlier in 2024.

From foundation to finish

With all the key parts now in place, construction teams are shifting focus to building the bridge deck –the flat surface that will eventually hold the LRT tracks.

Completing the bridge deck will be a key moment, as it will pave the way for the next step – installing the tracks for the LRT.

A specialized concrete screed machine plays a starring role here. Running on rails, it ensures the concrete is poured with precision, creating the perfect thickness, slope, and curvature. This advanced tool not only speeds up the process but also delivers greater accuracy compared to traditional hand-finishing methods.

The elevated guideway isn’t just a feat of engineering, it’s a crucial piece of infrastructure that will soon bring faster, more efficient transit options to the community. Stay tuned as the Hazel McCallion Line continues to take shape, one step closer to its destination.