Friday, May 22, 2026
The beginning of horizontal mass excavation using the tunnel boring machine for the Blue Line extension began, along with the unveiling of the name of the tunnel boring machine—Lisette, in honor of the first female operator of the Montréal Metro.
“The launch of the tunnel boring machine marks a historic moment for mobility in Montréal’s east end. Public transit is of paramount importance to our government, and our investment in this project is a concrete example of that. We are working for the quality of life and mobility of Montrealers,” said Benoit Charette, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
After several months of assembly and engineering testing, the tunnel boring machine is about to begin the horizontal mass excavation, marking a significant milestone in completion of the project. The use of this faster, more efficient and sustainable technique than traditional mechanical methods is a first in the Montreal métro network.
A true underground plant, the tunnel boring machine will keep the project on schedule by simultaneously excavating the tunnel, disposing of 300,000 cubic metres of rock and installing the 14,300 concrete voussoirs that make up the tunnel walls. The rock extracted from the tunnel will be sent to the Saint-Michel quarry, located near the Vertières shipyard, and can be reused by the City of Montreal.
The Montreal Metro Blue Line Extension project is No. 10 on ReNew Canada’s 2026 Top100 Projects report.
Starting at the future Vertières station at Boulevard Pie-IX and Rue Jean-Talon, the tunnel boring machine will help build 4.6 km of the 6 km tunnel extending the Blue Line. In the coming months, the tunnel boring machine will be seen crossing the transept of intermediate stations before heading above ground at the future Anjou station (western access) in early 2028.
“We are very proud to announce that the tunnel boring machine will be named Lisette in honour of Lisette St Onge, who became the first woman subway operator in 1981. Lisette has paved the way for a generation and embodies the values of innovation and progress associated with Blue Line Project. The public’s choice is a tribute to an inspiring figure and trailblazer who marked the history of Montréal’s subway and public transit,” said Maha Clour, Executive Director, Blue Line Project.
Featured image: (STM)
