Various Canadian officials joined Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in an event to mark the completion of the first mile of twin tunnels for the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE).

The new tunnels represent one complete section of the twin tunnels that will connect the future Sheppard West and Finch West Stations. The tunnel boring machines (TBMs) named "Holey" and "Moley" bored the tunnels.

"Holey" broke through the headwall at the Keele Street extraction shaft on May 1, completing the first tunneling milestone for the project. "Moley" broke through on June 4, completing the second tunnel for this section. Both TBMs are now being dismantled and moved to the second launch site and will bore the next section of tunnel.

The TYSSE project is an approximate 5.3-mile extension of the TTC's Yonge-University-Spadina subway line from its present terminus at Downsview Station to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Highway 7. It will have six new stations, including one at York University. The expansion of the subway will bring the line into York Region, the fastest-growing region in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) over the past 10 years.

"Holey," "Moley," "Yorkie" and "Torkie" are the official names of the machines that are boring the tunnels for the TYSSE project. They were chosen as part of a public contest to name the machines.

The Government of Canada is contributing up to $697 million for this subway extension. This investment is part of FLOW, a federal government initiative for the GTA that is designed to reduce congestion, cut commute times, help clear the air and drive the economic growth in the region.

The TYSSE project is targeted for completion by the end of 2015.