Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Political representatives and partners of the Blue Line Project visited the construction site of the future Vertières station to observe the assembly of the tunnel boring machine.
“We are proud to highlight this important milestone: the assembly of the tunnel boring machine for the Blue Line extension. The installation of this key component demonstrates our government’s commitment to promoting public transit in order to offer users faster and more accessible travel options,” said Jonatan Julien, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
An imposing underground factory, this tunnel boring machine represents an engineering feat rarely seen in Quebec. The giant drill, which arrived at the port of Montreal last October, is the centerpiece that will excavate the rock and concrete the tunnel over a distance of 4.6 kilometers to the future Anjou station.
“The tunnel boring machine being assembled today embodies the ability of the STM and its partners to deliver large-scale projects for Montreal. This colossal undertaking will permanently transform mobility in the East End and strengthen the city’s main transit network. We are moving forward with determination to offer citizens a modern, reliable metro system that meets their expectations,” said Aref Salem, vice president of the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal and chair of the Board of Directors of the STM.
The Montreal Metro Blue Line Extension is No. 10 on ReNew Canada’s 2026 Top100 Projects report.
(STM)
“We will soon invite the public to choose the tunnel boring machine’s godmother. This is a tradition that will pay tribute to a remarkable woman who has made her mark in her field. By giving the public a voice, we want to strengthen the link between this major project and the communities it will serve,” said Maha Clour, executive project director – Blue Line Project.
The construction teams are continuing the final assembly of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) and preparing for its commissioning. Recently, the massive components, including the 204-tonne gear, were successfully lowered to approximately 20 meters below ground level. Operation is scheduled to begin next spring. Once activated, the TBM will excavate the rock at an average rate of 10 to 15 meters per day. It is expected to reach the future Anjou station in 2028.
True to tradition, the tunnel boring machine will be named after a Quebec woman who has made a significant contribution to a field related to the project, such as engineering, sustainable development, or public transit. Starting March 9, the Project Office will invite the public to choose, from a list of finalists, the woman who will lend her name to the machine. Her identity will be revealed when the tunnel boring machine starts up next spring. This initiative will allow the public to participate in this project that will transform Montreal’s East End.
“ We are pleased to be here to highlight the progress of the work on the extension of the Blue Line. The assembly of the tunnel boring machine marks an important milestone in this project which, ultimately, will provide residents of East Montreal with an additional reliable option to facilitate their daily commutes,” said Eric St-Pierre, Member of Parliament for Honoré-Mercier.
“The assembly of the final piece of the tunnel boring machine marks a crucial step for the extension of the Blue Line. After so many years of inactivity, we can finally feel that this project is getting underway. And that’s a good thing, because East Montreal really needs it. Finally, residents will be connected to the rest of the city, opening up new opportunities of all kinds for everyone, including better access to universities, businesses, and the services they value,” said Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montreal.
The Blue Line Project is a key project for the development of Montreal’s East End. Extending over a distance of 6 km, this line will add five metro stations east of Saint-Michel station, reaching the borough of Anjou. This project is being carried out in collaboration with five responsible organizations: the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the Metropolitan Regional Transportation Authority, the City of Montreal, the Quebec Infrastructure Corporation, and the Montreal Transit Corporation.
Featured image: (L to R) Patricia Lattanzio, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel; Maha Clour, Executive Director of the Blue Line Project; Ginette Sylvain, Chair of the Board of Directors of the ARTM; Chantal Rouleau, Minister responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action and Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region; Jonatan Julien, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility; Aref Salem, Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal and Chair of the Board of Directors of the STM; Karine Boivin-Roy, MP for Anjou–Louis-Riel and Government Assistant to the Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region; Eric St-Pierre, MP for Honoré-Mercier; Marie-Claude Léonard, CEO of the STM. (Louis-Étienne Doré)
