After decades of delays, the UP Express will soon connect to the TTC via a pedestrian tunnel

Work is well underway on a 270-metre-long tunnel connecting the Bloor GO–UP Express outpost to Dundas West station—a major TTC hub with access to the subway, two streetcar lines and half a dozen bus routes. First considered in the mid-’90s and finally approved in 2023, the underpass will forever axe the awkward walk above ground between the two pain points.

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It’s welcome news for west-enders travelling to and from Pearson airport, Kitchener-Waterloo and any destination in between. It’s also huge for travellers visiting the city for the first time.

Earlier this month, Metrolinx shared a lo-res image of the tunnel in a PowerPoint presentation, complete with exposed concrete, orange pylons and dim lighting. The agency said during the virtual exhibition that it’s currently conducting electrical and interior work on the space, which includes installing door frames and drywall as well as painting surfaces and finishing concrete. There is no official completion date.

In keeping with Metrolinx’s truant record, the station link is long overdue. But, once completed, it promises to serve thousands of new neighbourhood residents: already in various stages of development and occupancy are skyline-defining condo and apartment complexes at Bloor and Dundas and Bloor and Lansdowne, plus the Galleria on the Park at Dufferin and Dupont.