After the tunnel boring machines (TBMs), nicknamed Rexy and Renny, completed the excavation work required for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, Sarens was tasked with extracting the 750-tonne machines.
Sarens was recruited by WestEnd Connectors to carry out the removal of the TBMs from the extraction shaft. The largest pieces weighed more than 72 tonnes and were 22 metres high. The TBMs were also located 18.3 metres below ground level.
Rexy and Renny began tunnelling for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension in April 2022. Sarens had previously collaborated as a crane provider for the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
In the next stage, to carry out the removal of the TBMs, the Sarens engineering team had to conduct a detailed preliminary study of the conditions of the operation, taking into account in particular the timing of the operation, ground bearing pressures and coordination with transport providers.Â
After studying the needs of the operation, the Liebherr LR 1600 crawler crane was selected as the main crane, which has 30-metres of main boom. This equipment was selected due to it not requiring a tray or superlift. The crane was erected, and the hook prepared in record time during the weekend prior to the start of the operation. A total of 14 transports were required.Â
The most relevant factors were the timeframe, as some loads required transport permits and had to be ready by a specific time, as well as the ground bearing pressures, as the crane is sitting on the newly constructed underground rail tunnels.
The crane was on site for six weeks during which the main challenge was the limited space they had to operate and the coordination with the transportation services. Sarens provided three crew members for the hoists.
RELATED: TBMs complete tunnel excavation for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension
The extension of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) will run 9.2 kilometres from Mount Dennis Station to Renforth Drive, operating mainly underground. With seven new stations, the extension will connect five other transit services.
The combined Eglinton Crosstown LRT and west extension are expected to take an estimated 6.5 million car trips off the road each year, which not only greatly relieves congestion on the road network, but also results in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions – up to 5,800 tonnes per year.
The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is one of the priority transit projects currently underway in Toronto, and it will bring 37,500 more people and 23,600 more jobs within walking distance to transit.
