I was honoured to be present this week to witness the unveiling of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will drive forward the extension of Montreal’s Blue Line. This historic project is the largest public infrastructure project currently underway in Quebec, spans 6 kilometres, includes 13 active worksites, and employs workers operating up to 34 metres underground.
At the heart of this massive undertaking is an extraordinary piece of engineering equipment. The TBM, measuring 135 metres in length and 10 metres in diameter, functions as a true underground factory. Its massive 9.7 metre cutting wheel excavates solid rock while a powerful extraction screw transfers debris to a conveyor system that removes it from the tunnel.
At the same time, automated carts deliver prefabricated concrete segments that are assembled inside the TBM by a remotely controlled erector, much like pieces of Lego. This innovative approach reduces noise and vibration compared to traditional blasting methods. Once activated, the TBM will excavate the 4.6-kilometre tunnel toward Anjou at an average pace of 10 to 15 metres per day, with arrival expected in 2028.
Meanwhile, the vertical excavation of the five new stations is advancing, beginning with Vertières station, where the TBM will be launched shortly. Digging to a depth of 26 metres required nearly 12 months of work and the removal of 74,000 cubic metres of soil and rock — the equivalent of 30 Olympic sized swimming pools.
For Saint-Leonard–Saint-Michel, the addition of three new metro stations will be transformative, providing reliable and efficient public transportation. The extension of the Blue Line is made possible by a historic $1.9 billion dollar federal investment, in partnership with the provincial government, and will have a direct and lasting impact on our community.
By investing in durable infrastructure and strengthening public transit, we are improving mobility, reducing congestion, and building 21st century communities where families and businesses can thrive. Residents of Montreal’s East End will soon have access to a faster and more user-friendly option for their daily travel. Our government is proud to support a project so essential to Montreal’s future, and I am pleased to mark this crucial milestone in bringing this major project to life.