VAUGHAN, ON, Dec. 3, 2013 – Construction of the twin tunnels is complete for the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension. The final segment of tunnelling was finished when tunnel boring machine (TBM) “Torkie” broke through the headwall at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station site, finishing the tenth and final tunnel drive for the project. This sets the stage for the next phase of work in the tunnels including installation of inverts and walkways, track, traction power, signals and communications systems.
TBMs “Holey”, “Moley”, “Yorkie” and “Torkie” have bored 6.4 kilometres of twin tunnels for the TYSSE project. In the summer of 2011, the first TBM “Holey” began boring from a launch shaft at the Downsview Park Station site.
The TYSSE is an 8.6-kilometre extension of the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Yonge-University-Spadina subway line from its present terminus at Sheppard West Station (currently called Downsview Station) to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Highway 7 in York Region. Construction work is expected to be completed by fall 2016 and has already generated thousands of jobs. Once the subway extension is completed, it will have six new subway stations and three new commuter parking lots.
The TYSSE will improve transit service by supporting a reliable multi-modal transportation network that is integrated with other transit systems within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. This initiative will promote economic growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping take cars off the road, and reduce travel times for commuters.
The Government of Canada has committed up to $697 million to the project, $622 million through its Building Canada Fund. The remaining $75 million was transferred to fund the project under the Public Transit Capital Trust in 2007.
The Province of Ontario has provided $870 million towards the TYSSE project through the Move Ontario Trust. The City of Toronto is contributing $526 million and The Regional Municipality of York is contributing $352 million to the project. The TTC is the project manager for construction of the extension.
For more information about the TYSSE project, visit www.spadina.ttc.ca. Select the “Tunnelling” tab for details about the twin tunnels. Visit www.youtube.com/officialttcchannel to view a new YouTube video on recent twin tunnelling.
For more information:
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Dale Albers
York Region Rapid Transit Corporation
Markham
905-886-6767
Danny Nicholson
Corporate Communications Supervisor
Toronto Transit Commission
416-393-3898
Bob Nichols
Communications
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Toronto
416-327-1158
Deborah Blackstone
Strategic Communications
City of Toronto
416-392-7377
Video footage of the tunnelling breakthrough and still shots are available from the TTC. Call Danny Nicholson at 416-393-3898 or email: danny.nicholson@ttc.ca.
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