The Biggest Infrastructure Project Next Door
The Ontario Line is the most significant transit project in Toronto's history, and Liberty Village sits directly in its construction zone. In 2026, the project shifts from planning to active tunnelling, and the impact on daily neighbourhood life is about to get real.
Here is what you need to know.
What Is the Ontario Line?
The Ontario Line is a 15.6-kilometre subway line running from Exhibition Place in the west to the Ontario Science Centre in the east. When complete, it will add 15 new stations and carry an estimated 388,000 riders per day — the largest single subway expansion Toronto has ever undertaken.
For Liberty Village, the critical piece is Exhibition Station, which will sit at the southern edge of the neighbourhood near BMO Field. This gives Liberty Village its first direct rapid transit connection — something residents have been asking about since the neighbourhood's population exploded in the 2010s.
The catch: it will not open until 2031. And the construction between now and then is going to be disruptive.
2026 Timeline
Tunnel Boring Begins
The tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are expected to launch in spring 2026, tunnelling approximately 20 metres per day beneath the city. The launch site for the western tunnel is near Exhibition Place, putting the heavy machinery operations within earshot of Liberty Village.
Construction Truck Traffic
The excavated earth from tunnelling has to go somewhere, and that means trucks. Lots of trucks. The original haul route proposal ran construction vehicles through Liberty Village itself, which would have been devastating for a neighbourhood with narrow streets and limited through-routes.
After significant community pushback, Metrolinx shifted the primary haul route to Dufferin Street, using the lanes between Dundas Street West and Lake Shore Boulevard West. This reduces but does not eliminate truck traffic near Liberty Village. You will still see construction vehicles on King Street West and Strachan Avenue.
Traction Power Substation
Excavation for the traction power substation finished in fall 2025. Construction completion is targeted for summer 2026. This is the facility that will power the trains once the line is operational.
Impact on Daily Life
Your Commute
The 504 King streetcar, Liberty Village's main transit link, will continue operating throughout construction. However, expect periodic diversions and slower service when construction work is happening near the streetcar tracks on King Street West. Check the TTC service alerts regularly.
For drivers, the traffic tips in our guide are more relevant than ever. Dufferin Street will be slower than usual with haul truck traffic. The Gardiner Expressway on-ramp from Lake Shore remains open but construction staging may cause backup.
Biking remains the most resilient option. The Martin Goodman Trail and local bike lanes are not affected by Ontario Line construction.
Noise
Construction noise is regulated by the city, with most work limited to 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays. Tunnel boring itself is relatively quiet at the surface level — the TBMs operate deep underground. The loudest phases are the station box excavation and surface-level work at Exhibition Station, which will peak in 2027-2028.
If you are signing a lease or buying a condo, proximity to the Exhibition Station construction zone matters. Buildings on the south side of East Liberty Street and near Atlantic Avenue will experience the most noise. See our noise complaints guide for reporting procedures.
Road Closures
Intermittent lane closures on Strachan Avenue and near Exhibition Place are expected throughout 2026. Full closures will be rare and typically happen on weekends. Metrolinx is required to provide advance notice, which they post on their Ontario Line community notices page.
The FIFA Overlap
The timing of tunnel boring coinciding with the FIFA World Cup 2026 is a logistical challenge that both Metrolinx and the city are managing. Construction hauling near BMO Field will be paused on FIFA match days in June and July. After the tournament wraps up in early July, expect construction activity to ramp back up to full pace.
The Payoff
When Exhibition Station opens in 2031, Liberty Village gains:
- Direct subway connection to downtown (Osgoode, Queen, Dundas stations) - Connection to the broader subway network without transferring at Union - Estimated travel time to Pape Station: under 15 minutes - Interchange with the existing GO Transit at Exhibition Station
This is transformational for a neighbourhood whose transit has been limited to a single streetcar line for over two decades. Real estate analysts expect the Ontario Line to have a measurable positive impact on property values — see our condo market guide for the full picture.
How to Stay Informed
- Metrolinx community notices: Updated regularly with construction schedules and detours - City of Toronto Ontario Line page: Quarterly construction updates - Your condo board: Should be relaying Metrolinx notices to residents - LibertyVillage.co: We will continue covering Ontario Line developments as they happen
The next five years will test Liberty Village residents' patience. But the payoff — a genuine subway station in the neighbourhood — is worth enduring the construction.