It’s not every day we get to see tunnel boring machines (TBMs) reach the finish line. In May, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension saw the completion of two new tunnels, bringing the project one step closer to taking the future Eglinton Crosstown LRT service 9.2-kilometres farther west with seven new stations along the way.  

The twin TBMs, named Rexy and Renny, were tasked with digging two parallel tunnels spanning 6.3-kilometres, from Renforth Drive in Mississauga to just west of Scarlett Road in Etobicoke.  

Over the past two years, the heavy machines, affectionately named by the community, have been the driving force behind progress on the western underground segment of the extension. The winning names were voted on prior to the start of excavation as a tribute to Renforth Station (Renny) in Mississauga and the Rexdale neighbourhood (Rexy) in northwest Toronto. 

During their journey, the 750-tonne, 131-metre-long machines carefully excavated approximately 1.2 million tonnes of soil and rock and installed a total of more than 52,000 pre-cast concrete segments to build 7,433 sturdy rings to support the tunnel walls. 

Meanwhile, work continues at the extraction shaft where crews are preparing for the future tunnel portal where the route transitions from underground to a 1.5-kilometre elevated segment.

Work is now underway to prepare sites for the construction of the elevated segment, which will run between Scarlett Road and Jane Street, along the north side of Eglinton Avenue West before transitioning back underground. Crews are also preparing work sites from east of Jane Street to Mount Dennis Station to build the tunnel which will connect the extension to the future Eglinton Crosstown LRT service. 

Once complete, the extension will create a continuous rapid transit line that stretches from Scarborough, through midtown Toronto, and into Mississauga.  

To keep up with progress on construction, follow the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension on Instagram, X, and Facebook.