Talk about a lift for a new year.

In need of upgrades, the elevators at Oakville GO station will soon be getting a lift.

But the servicing – set to begin on Jan. 20 – will mean the platforms will lose elevator service for approximately three months.

The work will include upgrading the two east tunnel elevators serving central platform 2 and south side platforms, 3 and 4.

It will take more than time and effort for crews working during the coldest time of year. The project requires patience and understanding from customers who will be impacted during the shutdown.

The elevators will be closed simultaneously, as efforts are made to minimize the time it takes to get them up and running again.

The lifts are getting old and close to the end of their lifespan. The renovations will mean they’ll become more efficient and reliable.

There are other upgrades that will be tackled at the same time at the station. Crews will be busy installing new digital signs on the south side of the bus loop at each of the five bus platforms that serve GO Transit buses (platforms 4 to 8).

Throughout this year, elevators across the transit network will be improved and upgraded to extend their lifespan and reliability. There are other upcoming elevator closures at other GO Stations in the coming year.

Look for further Metrolinx News reports on these projects. As well, go here to sign up for alerts on work at your station.

It’s all part of a massive GO expansion project, meant to reduce congestion and connect a growing region with fast, reliable transit options. Current work across the network includes everything from secured bike rooms to new tactile yellow tile at the edge of platforms.

All the many pieces put together add up to be the largest transit expansion in Canadian history.

As the work takes place at Oakville GO, neighbouring stations, Clarkson (east of Oakville, at 1110 Southdown Rd., near Royal Windsor Dr., in Mississauga) and Bronte (west of Oakville at 2104 Wyecroft Rd., near the QEW and Third Line, in Oakville) will remain accessible for customers needing elevators to get to the platforms.

Metrolinx has arranged for other support for Oakville travellers impacted by the closures. More accessible parking spots are being added to both Clarkson and Bronte stations.

And an accessible shuttle will be provided between Oakville and Clarkson or Bronte GO stations.

• This service is available for customers who request it at least 48 hours before their travel. You can do that by calling GO Transit at 416-869-3200 or 1-888-438-6646 (toll free), or speaking with a Station Attendant at Oakville GO.
• The service can also be requested on demand for the duration of the closures, however wait times will vary if it’s not booked 48 hours in advance.

Temporarily taking the elevators out of service will be difficult for customers. But these much-needed upgrades will make future travels on GO much easier.

To stay in the know about construction timelines and elevator status at Oakville, sign up for On the GO email or text alerts. Just click here. These alerts can be customized to any station or schedule.