Eglinton Crosstown TBMs moved to begin western segment boring

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Metrolinx

Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have moved to begin tunneling the western segment of the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown light-rail transit (LRT).

 

The TBMs, Dennis and Lea, tunneling from the west, officially reached the half-way point of their journey in January when they arrived at Allen Road. In order to bypass the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway line located in this area, both Dennis and Lea needed to be extracted from the ground, moved across Eglinton Avenue and re-inserted on the east side of Allen Road.

“It’s great to see we’ve reached another milestone on this important transit project that will benefit Toronto riders,” said Steven Del Duca, Onatrio’s minister of Transportation. “This project is proof of our government’s commitment to making the daily commute and quality of life better for Ontario families.”

Now that Dennis and Lea have been re-launched on the east side of Allen Road, both machines will continue their tunnel drives east toward Yonge Street to complete the 6.5-kilometer (four-mile) western segment of the Crosstown tunnel. They have already travelled 3,547 meters (2.2 miles) from where they started at Black Creek Drive.

The Eglinton Crosstown project represents a CA$5.3 billion (US$4.3-billion) transit improvement investment by the Ontario government, which will create tens of thousands of design and construction jobs. When in service, the Crosstown will bring new fast, reliable and comfortable transit to Toronto residents, integrated with existing TTC and GO Transit services.

Humber and Don, the TBMs that will dig the east tunnels, will begin their drives in late fall 2015.

 

 

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