The machine has been named ‘Alice’, after Alice Wilson, a famous Canadian geologist.
"Our Government is pleased to invest in this project that will create jobs and boost the regional economy," said James Moore, minister responsible for British Columbia and member of parliament for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, at the ceremony. "The Evergreen Line will not only provide Metro Vancouver residents with an expanded, efficient and environmentally sustainable transit system, it will connect communities and improve the quality of life for all residents of the region."
Premier Christy Clark added: "With today’s christening we can start to create the longest rapid transit system in Canada. We promised to open the line by summer 2016… and we’re delivering."
The Evergreen Line will run east of Barnet Highway in Port Moody to south of Kemsley Avenue in Coquitlam. The machine will drill a single tunnel in one direction, instead of two, allowing for a shorter construction schedule. Bored tunnel construction means there is no disruption to the surface above except at the tunnel entry and exit points.
The Evergreen Line will link Burnaby, Port Moody and Coquitlam and will be fully integrated into the existing system, connecting directly onto the Millennium Line at Lougheed Town Centre Station. It will carry 70,000 passengers and remove 40,000 cars from the road every day by 2021.
