Construction is currently happening at the Durham College Oshawa GO station to add two new tracks that will help boost service on the Lakeshore East line, as announced by the Ontario government on Wednesday.
The expansion will feature new pedestrian bridges, a new north platform, an extended south platform, and a bus loop, according to a news release from the province. Crews will also create infrastructure to support future electric trains.
“These upgrades will increase capacity, improve accessibility and make it easier for thousands of commuters to get where they need to go,” Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said at a news conference Wednesday.
The expansion is part of the province’s strategy to enable two-way, all-day GO train service on the Lakeshore East line, as noted in the news release.
The increased capacity will also help lessen congestion on Highway 401, Sarkaria mentioned.
He didn’t specify when the project is expected to wrap up.
The government also hasn’t provided a budget for this expansion. Sarkaria stated that numbers would be released once the procurement process concludes.
He indicated that over $15 billion is being spent by the government on various GO expansion projects, including construction at Oshawa GO station.
Trade War Affecting Project Costs, Says Minister
This project will take place alongside the province’s Bowmanville GO extension which aims to stretch the Lakeshore East line nearly 19 kilometers further into Durham Region.
This extension is anticipated to be completed by 2041 and support about 4.9 million trips each year, according to the news release.
Sarkaria acknowledged that tariffs are having an impact on project costs throughout Ontario.
“Whether you look at the cost of building anything in the province, given the introduction of tariffs, [it] would increase,” he said.
However, he emphasized that investing in public transit infrastructure is particularly essential amid ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U. S.
“We need to support domestic supply chains; we need to support domestic workers [and] we need to support domestic companies,” he stated.
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Durham Regional Chair John Henry told that this expansion has been a “long time coming” and is vital for accommodating growth in the area.
Temporary Road Closures Seen as ‘Short-term Pains’: Minister
At Wednesday’s press briefing , the transportation minister mentioned that Metrolinx is making every effort possible to minimize disruptions caused by several criticized road closures in Oshawa related to both Bowmanville extension project and separate closures due Highway 401 widening work. p >
“Ultimately though , these short-term pains that we see with respect disruption are going enable significantly more service same residents into future,” Sarkaria remarked. p >
For Bowmanville extension project , Simcoe Street between Avenue Albany streets fully closed until approximately January 2028. p >
Wilson Road S. is also completely shut from Dieppe Avenue Bloor Street E. until late spring 2027 for Highway 401 widening project. Additional road closures taking place Cubert Street Park Road S. until fall 2027. p >
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