Boring machines complete tunneling work for Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Construction of new LRT stations getting underway on $5.3 billion project as crews finish boring 10 kilometres of tunnels through midtown Toronto
One of the large tunnel boring machines being hoisted out of a segment of the light rail transit route. PHOTO: CrosstownTO
TORONTO—After nearly a full year of slow progress, a pair of tunnel boring machines—nicknamed Don and Humber—have ground to a halt beneath the streets of midtown Toronto.
Transit agency Metrolinx announced Aug. 17 construction crews have finished all 10 kilometres of initial subterranean work on the city’s newest transit megaproject.
“With tunnelling now complete for both the east and west segments of the line and construction underway on many underground stations, our vision of a modern, integrated transit line in Toronto that connects to three subway stations, three GO stations, and an UP Express station is even closer to becoming a reality,” Bruce McCuaig, Metrolinx president and CEO, said.
Stretching 25 stops between Weston Road in Toronto’s west end and Kennedy Station in Scarborough, the $5.3 billion Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) line will duck underground for just over half of its 19-km route.
Tunnel work on the western segment of the line was completed in May and crews will now turn their attention to building the LRT’s new stations. Project organizers said shoring work is underway at three stations while initial demolition work has commenced at a dozen others.
Construction on the project began in 2011 and the line is expected to be fully-functional by September of 2021.
