Mobilité Bleu Horizon: Prolongement de la ligne bleue du métro de Montréal
Mobilité Bleu Horizon consortium undertakes Montreal’s metro Blue Line extension project
News
Montreal Blue Line Extension: Tunnel and metro stations by MBH
- Client
- STM
- Sector
- Transportation
- Delivery mode
- Lump Sum
- Location
- Montréal, QC, CA
- Year built
- 2028
Overview of the Montreal Metro Blue Line Extension Project
The Mobilité Bleu Horizon (MBH) consortium, comprising of Pomerleau, EBC, and Spie Batignolles, is the successful bidder to carry out the work stipulated in the main contract for the Montreal Metro Blue Line Extension project.
The extension includes the construction of a main tunnel and the addition of five new stations and seven auxiliary structures over a distance of approximately 6 kilometers, from the Saint-Michel metro station to the Anjou borough.
Thanks to this project, more than 68,000 passengers per day will benefit from reliable and fast service, and, above all, improved access to the core public transit network.
Work to be carried out for this transportation project
Mobilized in the fall of 2024, the team will carry out the work in close collaboration with the Blue Line Project Office, overseen by the STM and its partners.
The mandate entrusted to MBH includes:
Construction of the main tunnel using a tunnel boring machine;
Concreting the tunnel base;
Construction of tunnels using conventional excavation using road cutters;
Excavation of the Pie-IX, Viau, Lacordaire, Langelier, and Anjou metro stations;
Excavation of certain auxiliary structures and their connection to the main tunnel.
The main tunnel, between Pie-IX and Anjou stations, will be constructed using a tunnel boring machine. The tunnel's progress will be consolidated by installing concrete segments, and the base will be concreted. This portion of the tunnel will be circular.
The tunnel connecting the Saint-Michel rear station to the new Pie-IX station will be constructed using excavators. The tunnel will be concreted and waterproofed using a multi-layer system consisting of wet-set shotcrete with steel fiber, drainage systems, and waterproofing membranes. This section of the tunnel will be a vault-type tunnel with straight legs.
These new tunnels will have two tracks: one track toward Snowdon station and one track toward Anjou station.
Challenges and Issues in the Metro Extension Work
Safety, the Number One Priority
For MBH and Blue Line Project, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our employees, our client, our partners, and the general public. For this reason, we have implemented strict health and safety protocols. These rigorous measures aim to ensure that everyone can return home safely at the end of each workday. We aim to stand out for our exemplary commitment to workplace health and safety and make it a model of rigor by implementing safety practices that not only meet but exceed industry standards. This includes increased signage on construction sites, where heavy truck traffic occurs, and several awareness meetings with the teams.
Ensuring harmonious coexistence (mobility, vibrations, dust, noise)
The work is taking place in high-traffic areas, both residential and commercial. It is crucial to mitigate disturbances for local residents by taking into account their needs and concerns. This includes the effective management of noise, vibrations, and mobility to ensure a pleasant and respectful living environment. Moreover, measuring instruments are installed in local residents' homes to monitor and comply with established thresholds.
Labor and collaboration with partners
Collaboration with various partners is essential to successfully complete the work. The consortium's strength lies in its ability to combine the skills of each to achieve our objective. Thus, we have mobilized experts from different backgrounds, all of whom bring specialized and distinct knowledge to the project. This diversity of expertise allows us to overcome technical challenges and innovate in our working methods.
Various Construction Methods
The Project involves the use of various methodologies for excavation. The tunnel will be excavated using a tunnel boring machine and rock cutters. The excavation of the stations and auxiliary structures will be carried out by drilling, blasting, and rock bursting. Consolidating the excavations and applying shotcrete to the various excavated surfaces represent a logistical and technical challenge. Coordination between the various teams and the management of material and human resources are key elements for the success of the Project.
The construction project in figures*:
Site depth ranging from 17m to 40m
Tunnel boring machine measuring 9.7m in diameter and 138m in length
Excavation of 600,000 tons of rock in the tunnel
Excavation of 1.4 million tons of rock at the stations
Execution of 33,000m² of shotcrete and waterproofing in the tunnel
Execution of 13,000m² of shotcrete and waterproofing at the stations and auxiliary structures
*These figures represent only the work entrusted to MBH.