Interesting Facts

Facts About Tunnelling and Construction

Tunneling Facts

• A tunnel boring machine can drill 15 metres a day.
   
• Tunnel Boring Machines Holey, Moley, Yorkie and Torkie were named as a result of a naming contest. Follow this link to read more about the naming contest. Spring 2011 Newsletter
   
• The tunnel boring machine cutter head assembly weights 50.6 tonnes.
   
• Tunnel boring machines weigh 430,000 kg each, equivalent to 280 cars.
   
• The total weight of a TBM and all of its components is 568 tonnes and takes 25 transport trucks to move all of the components.
   
• The number of precast tunnel liners include 9,000 rings comprised of 54,000 segments.
   

Project Statistics

• Our total excavation of material (bulked up) will more than fill the Rogers Centre!! We will be removing about 1.75 million cubic metres of material from the tunnels and stations.
   
• The project will use 400,000 m3 of concrete, the amount equal to 10 CN Towers.
   
• The subway track will require 11,000 precast double ties.
   
• The project will require 70,000 tonnes of rebar.