Double-Barrel Break-through in Toronto

On Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) “Yorkie” and “Torkie” simultaneously broke through the headwall at the Keele Street extraction shaft, marking another important milestone for the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension project. These drives took the machines under the York University campus, creating the twin tunnels connecting from Steeles West through to York University to Finch West Station.

“Yorkie” and “Torkie” breakthrough on Keele Street on Nov. 29.

“Yorkie” and “Torkie” breakthrough on Keele Street on Nov. 29.

The TBMs began tunneling last winter from the launch shaft located at the north end of York University campus south of Steeles Avenue West and east of North West Gate. The extraction shaft, where the TBMs arrived, is located in Keele Street, north of Murray Ross Parkway. Both TBMs will now be dismantled and moved to the Highway 407 launch shaft and will bore the next section of twin tunnels between Highway 407 and Steeles West Stations.

Each of the two tunnel drives was 1,660 m long and approximately 2,225 tunnel rings were placed to create the tunnels. Updates on the progress of “Yorkie” and “Torkie” can be found online at http://www3.ttc.ca 

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