The new Coxwell Bypass Tunnel will have a diameter of 6.3 metres and a length of 10.5 kilometres. The boring machine, which is 115 metres long, can excavate at least 20 metres of the tunnel per day.
A 1,000-tonne boring machine named Donnie is digging the underground passage, which will be located 50 metres below ground and parallel to the Don River. Donnie will dig its way westward along Lake Shore Boulevard East to the Don Roadway, north up the Don River valley to the North Toronto Treatment Plant, and then eastward to the Coxwell Ravine Park shaft site where the tunnel ends. Designed to capture, store and transport overflow rainwater and sewage for treatment at the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant, the tunnel is expected to be completed by 2024. "The grand scale of the tunnel boring machine makes you realize the incredible scope and complexity of this project. I'm delighted to be here today to mark this momentous next step in a project that will bring considerable benefits in cleaning up Toronto's waterways and aquatic habitat and enhancing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors," said Scarborough-Rouge River Coun. Jennifer McKelvie — who is also the vice chair of the city’s infrastructure and environment committee — at the launch event. York Centre Coun. James Pasternak, the chair of the infrastructure and environment committee, said an important milestone has been reached with Donnie’s arrival. “Years of planning, engineering and design will soon be realized as Donnie gets digging to create what will be a significant piece of infrastructure,” he said in a release. “This project will be of critical importance to our growing city and will improve the quality of Toronto's waterways, which will benefit generations to come."“While this work is part of a longer-term connected system, the benefits will be well worth the wait," she said.
https://www.toronto.com/news-story/9776993--donnie-gets-to-work-digging-east-toronto-s-new-coxwell-bypass-tunnel/New measures come after Councillor Fletcher’s call for proactive enforcement in wake of recent maulings.
We discussed the Vacant Home Tax, housing, the Port Lands Gas Plant, Alcohol in Parks, Indigenous naming in the Port Lands and more.
My spring newsletter is out! Plus: free compost this weekend & 2024 Environment Days.
