Wedoany.com Report on Feb 28th, Significant progress has been made on Montreal's Blue Line extension project, as a 9.7-meter diameter tunnel boring machine (TBM) has been fully assembled and lowered into position, ready to excavate from the future Vertières station to the Anjou station. Several high-ranking government officials attended a ceremony marking this milestone, signifying a new phase for this core engineering project.
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) plans to add five new stations and nearly six kilometers of track east of Saint-Michel to extend the Blue Line metro network. This custom-built TBM is scheduled to launch in the spring, advancing up to 15 meters per day, with the tunneling expected to be completed by 2028. The project also includes a public vote to name the TBM, selecting from a shortlist of local women who have made significant contributions to fields related to the project.
Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Jonatan Julien, stated: "We are proud to highlight this important milestone—the assembly of the tunnel boring machine for the Blue Line extension. The implementation of this core project demonstrates our government's commitment to promoting public transit, aiming to provide users with faster and more convenient travel experiences."
Montreal Regional Affairs Minister, Chantal Rouleau, added: "Seeing the tunnel boring machine take shape confirms that the Blue Line is making tangible progress in Montreal's East End. This structural project will transform mobility and support community development. We are executing it with the rigor taxpayers have a right to expect: a responsible major project. By bringing jobs, services, and living environments closer, we are directly accelerating the revitalization of the East End."
Montreal Mayor, Valérie Plante, said: "The assembly of the final part of the tunnel boring machine marks a crucial step forward for the Blue Line extension. After years of stagnation, we finally feel this project is getting underway. This is good because Montreal's East End truly needs it. Ultimately, residents will be connected to the rest of the city, opening up all sorts of new opportunities for everyone, including better access to the universities, businesses, and services they value."
