Tunnel construction on North LRT line to NAIT nearing completion

EDMONTON- Construction crews call it some of the most unique work they’ve every done- constructing the tunnels for the North LRT line to NAIT.

“It’s the most challenging item of work that we have to do on the project,” said project manager Brad Smid.

The North LRT line is a 3.3 kilometre extension from Churchill LRT Station northwest to NAIT. Crews are now into their third full year of construction on the project, including construction on the massive twin tunnels, each of which is six metres in diameter.

“This is the first tunnel I’ve ever worked on, it’s different. I’ve spent most of my career doing big buildings,” said construction worker Darcy Adams. “It was challenging at first, but when you think about it concrete is concrete and rebar is rebar, it all goes in.”

“Being on this project is the first time (I’ve worked) on a tunnel project, so everything is really new,” said project engineer Behin Phua. “It’s definitely something different. I’m really used to working on bridges and highways, so I’m more accustomed to that.”

Thursday morning Global News had the opportunity to go underground, for an up close look at the crown pouring- the process of pouring concrete in the tunnel archways and walls. It’s a 24-hour a day job, which crews say, logistically, is very challenging.

“You have only one entrance and trying to fit all this equipment in such a tight, confined space, that’s the tough part about this job,” said Phua.

“The invert (pouring) goes every 24 hours, the arch (pouring) goes every 48, and we’re into the home run now. It’s not going to be long and this will all be over and we’ll be ready for putting tracks in,” added Adams.

The line consists of about 700 metres of underground tunneling. $60 million was spent on the tunneling process alone. The total cost of the project was $755 million.

“That includes all the land that was required, as well as 20 new LRT vehicles and those vehicles have been ordered, they’re actually all in Edmonton already,” Smid explained.

He says construction on the entire North LRT project is on schedule, and going smoothly. Once the tunnels are complete, implementing the power and signalling systems will need the next step in the project.

“Everything is going really well. We’re on track to wrap up the major construction this year and open in the spring of 2014.”

With files from Shane Jones. 

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