rideau canal vs scarborough rapid transit

The Rideau Canal from Ottawa to Kingston was constructed under the leadership of Lt. Colonel John By.  With nineteenth century technology, freezing winters and scorching summers crews were able to cut through virgin forests and precambrian rock in just six years; 200 km, 47 masonry locks and 52 dams to control water levels. 

Six years - that's about the same* as the Toronto Transit Commission says it will take to relay 6 km of  track and install new wiring on the Scarborough rapid transit line. This 21st century project will be on an existing right-of-way and constructed road bed, i.e. no significant new construction, and have all the benefits of contemporary technology.  The disruption for hundreds of thousands of commuters will be massive and the costs to the city will be huge.

Meanwhile, the commission asks citizens to accept this as a reasonable and normal inconvenience. Do we need some 19th century engineers or just their commitment to getting the job done?

* The commission general manager originally stated it would take 9 years; public relations later reduced that goal to 5 years.