Tunnelling on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension reaches halfway mark
The halfway mark was reached less than a year after tunnelling on the project began.
Feb 24, 2023
Earlier this week, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension reached another milestone.
The first tunnel boring machine to start tunnelling, also known as Renny, passed the halfway point, digging over three kilometres of the roughly six-kilometre tunnel.
Renny, the tunnel boring machine that first started tunnelling in April 2022.
The 9.2km extension of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT will run from the future Mount Dennis station to Renforth Drive and will operate mainly underground. Once complete, it will create a continuous rapid transit line that stretches from Scarborough, through midtown Toronto, and into Mississauga.
Tunnelling started last April from the tunnel launch site near Renforth Drive, with the tunnel boring machines making their way to west of Scarlett Road, where the tunnel boring machines will emerge from underground.
Tunnel launch site near Renforth Drive
The second tunnel boring machine, known as Rexy, is not far behind Renny. Since July, Rexy has tunnelled 2.45 kilometres and reached the first headwall location at Martin Grove Road.
Inside one of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension tunnels
Follow the TBM’s journey using the tracker on the project website: metrolinx.com/EglintonWest, and follow @EglintonWestEXT on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for frequent updates.
by Kimberly Murphy Metrolinx senior advisor, subway program