The new elevator at Lawrence West subway station has taken over eight years to get up and running.

Construction on the Lawrence West wheel-chair accessible elevator began in 2006 but the project was terminated in 2008 due to design concerns and other issues with the contractor, according to the TTC.

A project was retendered in 2011 but not awarded due to higher-than-expected pricing, spokesman Brad Ross said in an email. A new contract was finally awarded to complete the work at Lawrence West in November 2012.

New TTC chair Josh Colle said, “it’s inexcusable to have a station inaccessible for this long especially when you consider there are two seniors communities that live there.”

“It’s really crazy to me it was out of commission that long,” he said.

The elevator will open officially Friday morning.