The opening of the long-awaited Evergreen Line has been postponed by several months, with the system now expected to be running in the fall of 2016 instead of the summer.
The delays are attributed to problems preparing the tunnel-boring machine for maintenance, according to project manager Amanda Farrell, who said the chamber around the cutting tools had to be reinforced to allow the workers to get in safely to do the repairs.
Alice - the name the tunnel boring machine was given - has been virtually stalled under Cecile Drive because dirt entered the air pocket where the workers were supposed to change the tools.
"Because some of the ground would fall into the chamber, that resulted in a sinkhole," Farrell said. "They had to do various operations to make it safe."
Boring has now resumed on the tunnel, she added, but noted that the extra work has resulted in a new construction schedule and a delay to the opening date.
Farrell said she informed the mayors of Port Moody and Coquitlam about the changed schedule.
"They understood," she said. "Both mayors were aware of the challenges we have had with the tunnel."
The falling dirt also resulted in a sinkhole and complaints from Cecile Drive residents near where the underground work is taking place.
Farrell confirmed that tunnel boring has resumed and a recent bulletin that stated that the Cecile Drive, just west of Highview Place, has opened with single alternating traffic, is up to date. Road restoration on Cecile is expected to follow.
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said Friday the delays are disappointing but necessary.
"We have waited 25 years for this. Two more months is disappointing," he said. "However, we want it done properly and safely. We are taking the delay in stride."
The city was hoping the rapid transit line would be ready in time for the 2016 BC Seniors Games, which Coquitlam is hosting. The games will see more than 3,500 seniors from across the province take part in 26 sporting events over the course of the four-day competition.
City staff were unable to say before The Tri-City News' print deadline yesterday what, if any, impacts the Evergreen Line and its links to other SkyTrain lines would have on programming for the games or the city's 125th birthday celebrations.
The $1.4-billion Evergreen Line project remains on budget and the contractor is responsible for all costs related to the schedule delay under the terms of the fixed price contract.
More information and updates are available at www.evergreenline.gov.bc.ca.
@dstrandbergTC
- with files from Janis Warren and Gary McKenna
