Eglinton Crosstown LRT Gets it's Drilling (Boring) Machine
From the National Post:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/04...crosstown-lrt/
Almost two decades since the last effort to dig a transit tunnel along Eglinton Avenue was halted, construction of the Crosstown LRT tunnel is set to begin anew.
One of two tunnel-boring machines that will be used to dig the 11-kilometre underground portion of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is now in place, with the other soon to follow. Both are due to start digging on May 15.
“This a historic day for Toronto, for Ontario and for public transit,” said Glen Murray, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, during a media tour Tuesday of the launch site for the tunnel-boring machines at Eglinton Avenue West and Black Creek Drive.
Airport Rail Link Update
The first Article is from the Junction - It's called the Diamond Project :
Read Here
Blogto has done a series on all the Underground Underpasses that will be required for the Airport Rail Link, Regular Go Service, and Freight Service to navigate crossings level and otherwise. Quite Interesting, the about of work that is needed, to ensure smooth transfer from the downtown core to Pearson International Airport
Here are some of the photos from the Report
Project Stats:
Rail companies using the corridor: 4 (CPR, CNR, GO Transit, and Via)
Project lifespan: 100 years
Project stages: 4 (2006-2015)
New tracks: 2
Number of pipe-piles reinforcing lowered corridor walls: 2,338
Deepest piles: 23m
Concrete used: 55,000 cubic metres - enough to fill Union Station's Great Hall
Excavation: 9m (max)
Soil removed: 200,000 cubic metres - enough to fill 80 Olympic swimming pools
Number of bridges: 4
Total bridge weight: 10,000 tonnes
Total bridge weight measured in empty 12-car GO trains: 14
Strachan Underpass
Read the Article Here
Report by the Numbers
■DURATION OF PROJECT: 2011-2014 (projected)
■LENGTH OF TRENCH: 1.4 kilometres (King Street West to Bathurst Street)
■SIZE OF OVERPASS: 19m width X 42m length
■MAXIMUM DEPTH: 8 metres
■DIRT DISPLACED: Over 70,000 cubic meters
■PILES USED: Approx. 1,500 (drilled 10-20m deep for watertight depressed corridor)
■TUNNEL BORING MACHINES USED: 1 (to create a 520 meter long Siphon tunnel)
■PUMPING STATIONS: 1 (a dedicated station is necessary for drainage)
■BIKE LANES: 2 (hooray!)
■ANTI-GRAFFITI COATING: To be applied to all wall surfaces
■PUBLIC ART PROJECTS: 1 (on the temporary retaining wall at Strachan Avenue)