YTZ pedestrian tunnel now open

The new pedestrian tunnel to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is now open to the public, providing travellers with a new way to access the airport.

Since it was first opened in 1939, Billy Bishop Airport has only been accessible by ferry.

Now, the new 853-foot pedestrian tunnel runs across the Western Channel of Lake Ontario, built within the bedrock 100 feet beneath the surface of the lake. The tunnel will serve as the first land-link between Toronto’s mainland and the island, which was constructed by a predecessor agency of PortsToronto in the 1930s using land reclaimed from Toronto Harbour.

The tunnel, which cost $82.5 million to build, was funded through a public-private partnership agreement between PortsToronto, Forum Equity Partners and lead contractor PCL. Ultimately, the cost of the tunnel will be paid for by airport users via a portion of the existing Airport Improvement Fee.

Travellers arriving from the mainland will enter a new one-storey pavilion that serves as the entryway to the tunnel. From a bank of six elevators inside the pavilion, they will then descend 100 feet to access the tunnel and travel along the horizontal passageway via four automated sidewalks moving at a speed of 2.3 kilometres per hour.  

At the south end of the horizontal expanse of the tunnel, travellers can access the island atrium and airport’s check-in area using one of the longest escalator systems in Canada, one of two elevators, or a staircase of 153 steps to the top.

The complete journey through the tunnel takes less than six minutes.

The tunnel incorporates leading-edge technology, with 42 large digital screens installed throughout the pavilion, atrium and tunnel that will provide travellers with information and work in conjunction with an app which offers concierge-type services and curated content to assist with travel.

Launching this August, the Billy app will offer such content as traffic, weather, directions, estimated wait times at various points in the airport, travel suggestions, restaurant recommendations and flight information. All areas of the tunnel are also equipped with free WiFi.