Tunnelling Progress

Tunnel Boring Progress of Holey, Moley and Yorkie, Torkie

Tunnel Boring Machine progress is indicated by a green line, and can be found by clicking on the full view Construction Activity Map. Neighbourhood Overview Map 

There are two sets of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will build the tunnels for the project:  Holey and Moley are one pair, Yorkie and Torkie are the second pair. Holey and Moley have built the tunnels south of Finch West Station, the southern tunnels, and Yorkie and Torkie will build all of the tunnels north of Finch West Station, or the northern tunnels. As of this update 76% of tunnelling has now been completed.

In the summer of 2011 tunnel boring machine Holey began tunnelling operations from the launch shaft at the Downsview Park Station site. Holey completed the first drive on May 1, 2012 and on December 7, 2012 broke through the headwall at the extraction shaft located on the east side of W.R. Allen Road, just north of Downsview Station (future Sheppard West Station). In total, Holey has drilled 2.8 kms of tunnel and placed 1,826 rings. Watch how a subway is constructed and see the breakthrough of Holey. (Click here)

Last fall 2011 tunnel boring machine Moley began boring in the tunnel adjacent to Holey and arrived at the Keele Street extraction shaft on June 4, 2012. On March 5, 2013 Moley broke through the headwall at the extraction shaft located just north of Downsview Station. Moley placed 799 rings and completed 1.2 kilometres of tunnel. 

Holey and Moley have now completed the southern tunnels! Great job! 

In December 2011, Yorkie began the first northern tunnel drive from the Black Creek Pioneer Village Station launch shaft and broke through at the Keele Street extraction shaft on November 29, 2012. Torkie began tunnelling in February 2012 and also broke through at the extraction shaft on November 29th. This made project history as the first double TBM breakthrough, a rare occurrence in North America. Yorkie and Torkie have completed 1.7 kms of twin tunnels. 

On March 19, 2013 Torkie began tunnelling south from the Highway 407 Station site, and is headed toward the Black Creek Pioneer Village Station (formerly knows as Steeles West Station) extraction shaft. On April 2, 2013 Yorkie launched tunnelling operations and is boring southbound in the adjacent tunnel to Yorkie. Both machines have now achieved the milestone of clearing the CN Rail tracks. Yorkie and Torkie will each tunnel approximately 1,030 metres and will place about 1,373 tunnel liners. Both machines are expected to complete this drive in June.

Tunnel boring machines are expected to tunnel or 'bore' on average about 15 metres a day.

The above images show the planned sequence of the tunnelling for the project.