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TORONTO — The Ontario governmentÌýis marking the official start ofÌýtunnellingÌýfor theÌý,ÌýsignifyingÌýa majorÌýconstruction milestone.ÌýÌý

Two tunnel boring machines are digging twin tunnels from Exhibition Station toward the Don Yard near the Don Valley Parkway and Lakeshore Boulevard, as deep as 40 metres below the surface, a release reads.ÌýÌý

Tunnelling will start in phases with the first tunnel boring machine digging the tunnel for the eastbound track, followed by the second tunnel boring machine, which will dig the tunnel for the westbound track.Ìý

At the Don Yard, Ontario Line trains willÌýemergeÌýfrom the tunnels and continue east above ground across the Lower Don Bridge. Once complete, the 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line will run from Exhibition Place to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Don Mills Road, with 15 stations and more than 40 transit connections, the release adds.ÌýÌý

Major construction is also underway at Exhibition Station, where crews are building platforms and station entrances on both sides of the track. Exhibition Station will connect riders to GO Transit and bring subway service to the Liberty Village neighbourhood.Ìý

Progress is alsoÌýwell underwayÌýat several downtown stations, with excavation complete at King West, Moss Park and Distillery District, and nearing completion at Chinatown.Ìý

The total project cost for the line is estimated at $27.2 billion and is part of the province’s broaderÌý$70 billion provincial plan to expand transit across Ontario.Ìý

The Government of Canada is contributing over $4 billion towardÌýits construction.Ìý

Key contractorsÌýfor the entire project for various componentsÌýinclude  for the southern civil work, for the northern elevated section,ÌýÌýfor theÌýPapeÌýtunnel and Underground StationsÌýand for trains and systems.Ìý