Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have picked Italian contractor Webuild and Spain’s FCC to build a portion of the Ontario Line, a mass transit system under construction in Toronto.

The two have formed a 50:50 joint venture to design and build the “Pape Tunnel and underground stations” section of the line. The final contract value will be determined by the detailed design.

Webuild notes that the work will be procured as a “progressive design–build” contract, a type developed in Canada that involves more up-front collaboration between the project owner and the construction team to de-risk the work.

The scope of the work will include the design, construction and operation of 3km of twin tunnels, two stations and an interface with Toronto Transit Commission’s Line 2 subway.

When complete in 2031, the €13bn line will run 16km from northeast to southwest through Toronto, and will cut travel times on the route to less than 30 minutes compared with 70 minutes now.

It will have 15 stations, six intermodal hubs and more than 40 connections with existing subway, streetcar, light-rail transit, regional rail lines and bus services.

Webuild is also part of the Connect 6ix consortium, which is supplying the rolling stock and handling signalling, communication, and safety systems. It will also carry out maintenance on the completed asset.

Elsewhere in Ontario, Webuild is working on the Hurontario project with the Mobilinx consortium.

This involves building a light rail line that will run 18km through the cities of Mississauga and Brampton.