Vancouver subway marks another breakthrough

TBM Phyllis has reached the fourth of six underground stations, excavating more than 2km of tunnel and installing approximately 1,330 concrete tunnel liner rings since being launched from Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station in autumn 2022.

The 150m-long machine passed under the Canada Line at a depth of 22m shortly after departing Broadway-City Hall Station. From there, the tunnel rises to 15m below the surface.

Image Credit: BC Government

After undergoing planned maintenance, TBM Phyllis will continue toward the future South Granville Station. The project’s other TBM – Elsie – will arrive at Oak-VGH Station this autumn.

The two Herrenknecht TBMs broke through at the future Broadway-City Hall Station in spring this year.

Broadway Subway Project Corporation, an Acciona Ghella JV, is responsible for the tunnelling works.

The future Oak-VGH Station will offer better access to Vancouver General Hospital and the medical district. This construction site is one of several featuring a pedestrian bridge above the excavated station to maintain access to businesses and services. Work to construct the concrete walls, columns and floors is under way at all six future underground stations.

The Broadway Subway Project is a 5.7km extension of the Millennium Line from VCC-Clark Station to West Broadway and Arbutus Street, providing a fast SkyTrain service along the Broadway corridor.