Toronto Infrastructure Committee Endorses $65M Watermain Upgrades Along Eglinton East

TORONTO, ON — The City of Toronto’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee approved a $65.4 million capital procurement contract on Tuesday to replace critical subterranean trunk watermains and construct separated storm sewers along Eglinton Avenue East in Scarborough.

Civil Works and Sewer Separation Scope

The infrastructure renewal project replaces 7.8 kilometers of 60-year-old cast-iron water distribution mains between Kennedy Road and Markham Road. The project also installs high-capacity separated storm sewer pipes to divert urban street runoff directly away from the Highland Creek wastewater treatment system, preventing raw sewage overflows during intense summer downpours.

City engineering staff confirmed that coordinating the deep utility reconstruction ahead of planned surface roadway resurfacing will prevent repeated road closures and reduce long-term municipal capital costs by $18 million.

Scarborough Resident and Business Safeguards

Committee members adopted traffic mitigation guidelines requiring contractors to maintain continuous two-way vehicular flow and pedestrian access to commercial retail plazas along Eglinton East throughout civil excavation.

Scarborough community leaders welcomed the investment, emphasizing that chronic basement flooding has impacted residential subdivisions across the Highland Creek watershed for years.

City Council Final Approval

The contract recommendation will be submitted to City Council for final ratification at its September 17 meeting, with civil construction commencing in spring 2027.