By Lynda Myer
The first TBM (tunnel boring machine) has broken through at the future Oak-VGH Station, acquiring another milestone for the Broadway Subway Project.
Phyllis, the TBM, has arrived at the fourth of six underground stations, boring over two kilometers of tunnel and installing nearly 1,330 concrete tunnel liner rings since leaving Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station in fall 2022.
The 150-meter-long tunnel boring machine passed beneath the Canada Line at a depth of 22 meters soon after leaving Broadway-City Hall Station. Subsequently, the recently constructed tunnel rises to 15 meters under the surface at Laurel Street.
Phyllis will continue toward the future South Granville Station after experiencing planned maintenance. Elsie, the project’s other TBM, will reach Oak-VGH Station this fall.
As reported, the Broadway Subway Project is a 5.7-kilometer stretch of the Millennium Line from VCC-Clark Station to West Broadway and Arbutus Street, delivering people with fast, suitable SkyTrain service along the Broadway corridor.
The passage is home to B.C.’s world-class healthcare services, second-largest jobs center, an emerging innovation and research hub, and growing residential neighborhoods.
The project indicates better access to businesses and services, faster travel, and fewer cars on the road, which is said to ease congestion on this heavily used corridor.
When operational, the trip between VCC-Clark and Arbutus stations will take 11 minutes, saving the average public transit commuter nearly 30 minutes daily.
The future Oak-VGH Station, situated on the southwestern corner of Broadway and Laurel Street, will present better access to Vancouver General Hospital and the rest of the medical district.
This construction site is one of a number, featuring a pedestrian bridge above the mined station, maintaining access to businesses and services and keeping people moving around construction activities. Work to build the concrete walls, columns, and floors is underway in different phases at all six future underground stations.
In addition, workers are constructing the concrete deck for the 700-meter-long elevated guideway section that links the Broadway Subway Project to the current Millennium Line.
The project supports new transit-oriented developments that will make efficient, connected communities where people can effortlessly access public transit and have their day-to-day needs conveniently met close to home.
As estimated, the Broadway Subway Project is generating over 13,000 direct and indirect jobs during the building phase, helping economic development within the region and beyond.
A video of Phyllis reaching Oak-VGH Station is available here.
For further information on the Broadway Subway Project, click here.
