The Hamilton Transit Alliance, led by Aecon Infrastructure and including Hatch, Egis and Systra as design partners, has secured the contract for the first major stage of civil and utility works on the Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Ontario, Canada.
The announcement follows a competitive procurement process involving the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada and Metrolinx.
The Hamilton LRT will feature 14km of new track running through key city destinations, including McMaster University, Eastgate Square, Hamilton Stadium, Gage Park, Ottawa Street and the downtown core, with 17 stops serving up to 50,000 daily riders.
Preparatory works for the new line have already commenced, covering utility relocations, grade separations, road reconstructions, and upgrades to sidewalks and traffic control systems.
The contract also covers the replacement of key civil and utility infrastructure, including 14km of sewer works, 16km of watermain updates, 14km of road redevelopment, 28km of new and upgraded sidewalks, and the modernisation of 62 traffic signals.
Additional engineering work will address the bridge over Highway 403, construction of an underpass below the Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail line near Gage Avenue, and improvements to the Queenston Road bridge above the Red Hill Valley Parkway.
The LRT project is designed to connect local and regional transit, linking with Hamilton Street Railway and GO Transit, and is expected to support 16,400 new daily trips.
During its development, the scheme will advance into an alliance development phase to further refine designs, establish cost projections, and set construction timelines. This stage is anticipated to last between 18 to 24 months.
The funding for the project consists of up to C$1.7bn ($1.24bn) from the federal government and additional provincial contributions, with total investments in Hamilton LRT reaching up to C$3.4bn as part of a wider C$70bn commitment to transit expansion in Ontario.
The implementation strategy employs a collaborative model in which private sector partners work directly with public authorities, rather than through a third-party consortium.
This approach is designed to improve flexibility and coordination among project team members.
Following the initial civil and utilities contract, a separate procurement process will be conducted for stations, rail and operating systems.
Officials, including federal and provincial representatives, have marked the progress to date, noting that construction activities such as early works and utility relocations are already under way.
The project is projected to enhance employment both during construction and in future operations while increasing access to public transport for Hamilton residents.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said: “This project will help reduce congestion, support new housing and investment along the corridor, and strengthen our downtown and commercial and residential neighbourhoods along its entire length and beyond.
“Through strong partnership with the Province of Ontario, Metrolinx, and the Government of Canada, we are delivering the modern transit system Hamiltonians deserve for generations to come.”
