Canada: Tunnelling Commences on Scarborough Subway Extension

Metrolinx has announced that tunnelling is now underway on Scarborough’s 7.8-kilometre subway extension in Toronto, Canada.

The Scarborough subway extension will bring Toronto’s subway service further north into Scarborough, accommodating up to 105,000 daily boardings.

Tunnelling has now commenced on this project following preparatory work on the launch shaft at Sheppard Avenue East and McCowan Road.

A drone photo of the large excavation that was required for the TBM at the launch shaft site

The tunnel boring machine (TBM) arrived from Germany late last year and will travel 10 to 15 metres a day towards Eglinton Avenue East and Midland Avenue.

Over the next few years, it will dig approximately 6.9 kilometres of the 7.8-kilometre tunnel.

A closer look at the TBM in the launch shaft as it starts to dig

The remaining portion of the tunnel will be built by the contractor for the stations, rail and systems contract. The 10.7 metres wide tunnel will be the first subway tunnel in Toronto to contain two subway tracks operating in both directions.

Crews have now also started work at the project’s extraction shaft site at Midland Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East.