Tunnel Boring Shields

To expand fast, frequent, and convenient SkyTrain service throughout Vancouver, the Millenium Line is being expanded from VCC-Clark Station to Broadway and Arbutus, a 5.7 km extension called the Broadway Subway Project. Of the extension, 700 metres is elevated, extending from VCC-Clark Station to a tunnel portal near Great Northern Way, while the remaining five kilometres are tunneled below the Broadway Corridor.

To excavate this tunnel, two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) were used, named Elsie and Phyllis, in honour of notable women from British Columbia's history: Elsie MacGill, the world's first female aeronautical engineer, and Phyllis Munday, a renowned mountaineer. Following their service, the TBMs were disassembled and removed between March and July 2024.

Following the decommissioning, the steel tunnel shields, measuring over six metres in diameter, were transported to our Burnaby yard for recycling. Given the substantial size of the shields, transportation was conducted overnight to minimize public disruption. Upon arrival, our team meticulously executed the decommissioning process, safely and efficiently cutting down the shields into sizes suitable for recycling.

After processing, the ferrous metal from the shield was shipped to an electric arc furnace in Seattle, where it was melted down and recycled into new steel. This successful project not only demonstrated ABC Recycling’s technical expertise and commitment to safety, but also highlighted our role in sustainable metal recycling and the circular economy—transforming decommissioned construction equipment into high-quality materials that will help shape the world of tomorrow.