Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have chosen a team led by Austrian contractor Strabag to design, build and finance a section of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension in Toronto.

The main element of the US$190m contract is a 500m tunnel to Mount Denis station.

Other members of the Strabag consortium are WSP Canada and Salzburg-based Sauer & Partners, which will handle the engineering design.

The scope of the project includes the design and supply of mining and tunnelling equipment and the detailed design and construction of the tunnel using the sequential excavation method.

The team will also undertake the modification of Mount Dennis Station to accommodate the Eglinton Crosstown service and all necessary utility and road modifications. Mount Dennis is the furthest west station on the Crosstown line.

Infrastructure Ontario said the tender for the work underwent an “open, fair and competitive procurement process overseen by a third-party fairness adviser”.

Enabling works for the project are under way and major construction is expected to begin later this year.