TTC and City of Toronto contractors continue working on the project to extend the 1 Yonge - University - Spadina subway northwest from Downsview Station to York University and Vaughan.

Last week, the tunnel-boring machine, “Holey” began digging its second tunnel from a launch shaft near the site of the future Sheppard West Station, just south of Sheppard Avenue West near Downsview Park. Holey is headed toward the Downsview Station extraction shaft, north of Sheppard West on the east side of William R. Allen Road.

“Holey” will tunnel nearly 1.2 kilometres (0.75 miles). When it finishes this drive the new extension will finally connect with the current 1 Yonge - University - Spadina subway line.

“Holey” completed the first tunnelling milestone of breaking through the headwall at Keele Street, south of Finch Avenue West, Tuesday, May 1. “Holey” is anticipated to complete this second tunnel drive by the end of the year.

Contractors expect to launch “Moley”, which is boring the twin tunnel beside “Holey”, about a month after “Holey”.

The TTC dubbed the four tunnel-boring machines “Holey”, “Moley”, “Torkie” and “Yorkie” after a public contest to name the machines.

“Torkie” and “Yorkie” are digging separate tunnels on York University’s Keele Campus, near the site of the future York University Station.

You can follow the progress for “Holey”, “Moley”, “Torkie” and “Yorkie” on the Toronto-York subway extension website under “Tunnelling Progress” here.