Some 257 m of the 2.5 km-long downtown tunnel has been roadheader excavated to date for the Confederation Line Light Rail Transit project.

From the west portal in LeBreton Flats, the roadheader Jawbreaker has carved out 228 m of tunnel since November, 2013 advancing east of Bronson Avenue towards Bay Street. It will also excavate the cavern for Lyon Station. From the east portal, located near University of Ottawa, Crocodile Rouge launched in December, 2013 and has driven 22 m west towards Rideau Station, linking underground with the other roadheaders at the central shaft. Crocodile Rouge will also dig the cavern for Rideau Station.

The machine Chewrocka, at the Central Shaft under Queen Street and Kent Street, started in January, 2014 and has mined 7 m toward east. It will also dig the cavern for Parliament Station.

The Confederation Line is a EUR1.4 billion (CAD2.1 billion) project funded by the Government of Canada (28.5 percent), the Province of Ontario (28.5 percent), the City of Ottawa (21.4 percent). The remaining project budget funds (21.6 percent) will come from development charge revenues and transit reserves.

This project is the first stage in Ottawa’s future rail network. The 12.5 km-long electric light rail system replaces existing diesel powered buses, providing rapid transit between Blair Station in the east and Tunney’s Pasture in the west. The route includes 13 stations, with the tunnel alleviating congestion through the downtown core. Click ca/31 and here for tunnelbuilder archive and visit http://www.ottawalightrail.ca/ for more information. 07/14.