The first of two TBMs has broken through at the future Oak-VGH Station, achieving another milestone for the Broadway Subway Project.  

The machine, named Phyllis, has reached the fourth of six underground stations, excavating more than 2 km of tunnel and installing approximately 1,330 concrete tunnel liner rings since departing from Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station in fall 2022. The 150-m-long machine passed under the Canada Line at a depth of 22 m shortly after departing Broadway-City Hall Station. From there, the newly completed tunnel rises to 15 m below the surface at Laurel Street. Phyllis will continue toward the future South Granville Station after undergoing scheduled maintenance. The project’s other TBM, named Elsie, will arrive at Oak-VGH Station this fall.  

The Broadway Subway Project is a 5.7-km extension of the Millennium Line from VCC-Clark Station to West Broadway and Arbutus Street, providing people with fast, convenient SkyTrain service along the Broadway corridor. Once in service, the trip between VCC-Clark and Arbutus stations will take 11 minutes, saving the average public transit commuter almost 30 minutes a day.  

The future Oak-VGH Station, located on the southwestern corner of Broadway and Laurel Street, will offer 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 excavated station, maintaining access to businesses and services and keeping people moving around construction activities. Work to construct the concrete walls, columns and floors is underway in various stages at all six future underground stations. 

Click here for the video of Phyllis arriving at Oak-VGH Station, here and ca/38 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://news.gov.bc.ca and https://www.broadwaysubway.ca. 41/23