Expect delays at Union
Work put off to 2019, four years after deadline, disappointing city
The revitalization of Union Station has been pushed back yet again to 2019 — the latest delay in the three years since it was originally meant to be finished.
The City of Toronto has been “disappointed and frustrated” with these delays, said city spokesperson Erin McGuey.
“The Union Station Revitalization Project, seemingly along with a number of other Bondfield construction projects across the province, has experienced significant delays in recent months,” she said.
When the construction was originally approved in 2009, with a timeline for completion in 2015, construction company Carillion Canada Inc. was hired to carry out the work. Carillion had only completed the first phase of the project before Bondfield Construction Inc. replaced them. Bondfield has missed deadlines on several projects in the past, including renovations on GO transit stations in the GTA.
McGuey said that “significant progress” has been made since the beginning of the revitalization, “including completion of the York Concourse, the VIA Panorama lounge, two new bike parking stations, and the dig down under to create a new retail level under the station, and food court under the York concourse.”
What remains to be finished is restoration of the Great Hall, the VIA Concourse, the new Bay Concourse and retail level, and “glass moat covers,” to protect commuters entering at street level from the elements.
The project has experienced numerous delays. The last delay — from an early 2018 finish date to a late 2018 one — added $22.8 million to the budget. McGuey said the current approved budget has not changed from $823 million. McGuey was unable to say just when in 2019 the work on the station will be completed.
“The city has taken action, including involving Bondfield’s surety company Zurich Insurance Company Ltd., under its performance bond to help ensure the project is completed as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible,” McGuey said.
The city is in discussions with both Zurich and Bondfield on a revised timeline, she added.
“The city is actively managing this project, and will assess all future options to ensure its completion,” McGuey said.
Once completed, Union Station — which sees over 300,000 visitors daily according to McGuey, making it the country’s busiest transportation hub — will be able to support twice as many pedestrians and be adining, shopping and gathering hub, she said.