SNC-Lavalin, Aecon consortium awarded $5-billion Eglinton Crosstown project

The Ontario government has confirmed the selection of an SNC-Lavalin and Aecon consortium to build Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit project estimated to be worth about $5 billion.

The Crosslinx Transit Solutions group, which comprises SNC-Lavalin, ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., EllisDon and Aecon, was the winning bidder to design, finance, build and maintain the 19-kilometre transit line that would include 25 stations and stops.

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is part of Metrolinx's regional transportation plan designed to reduce congestion.

It would run along Eglinton Avenue with about half the distance running underground and would link to bus routes, three subway stations and various GO Transit lines.

The contract is expected to be signed this summer with construction starting early next year and completed in late 2020.

Financial details weren't disclosed Monday but analysts estimate the total project is worth up to about $5 billion.