TTC Tunnel Boring Machine being lifted by crane.

February 2011

The TTC began taking delivery of the first of four Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) for the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) on Jan. 17.

The TBM is being delivered to the launch shaft near the Sheppard West Station site from the Lovat factory in Etobicoke. The southern tunnel contractor for the subway extension is Aecon. A contract for the northern tunnels, and for Highway 407 Station, was awarded in January.

It will take 21 truckloads of parts over a three-week period to complete the delivery of the first TBM. The second machine is scheduled for delivery to the launch shaft near the Steeles West Station site in February.

“The last two TBMs will be delivered in a similar manner in the coming months,” said Chief Project Manager Andy Bertolo. “In all, the four units will excavate more than 12 kilometres of running tunnels for the subway extension, which is scheduled for completion in late 2015.”

In general terms, the TBM at Sheppard West will drive north towards the Finch West Station site and the TBM at Steeles West will drive south towards the York University Station site.

The names of the two pairs of machines were announced last December as Holey and Moley, and Yorkie and Torkie. A public naming contest was held last September.

The TYSSE project is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto and The Regional Municipality of York.