Massive drill rig arrives at Cedarvale Station

In early June, crews assembled a 100-foot drill rig to begin support of excavation (shoring) for the east entrance of the Crosstown’s future Cedarvale Station. Located at Allen Road and Eglinton Avenue, the east entrance, with a footprint slightly longer than a volleyball court, will offer accessible access to both the new LRT line and the TTC’s  University-Spadina subway line.  

This massive 140-tonne drill rig will work with another large crane to install a series of “caisson” piles. Caisson piles are formed by driving a hollow tube into the ground, placing a large steel beam into the tube, and filling it with concrete. These piles will form the foundation of the future station entrance. However, unlike a foundation for a house – where a hole is dug and then the foundation walls are built – we drill overlapping caissons to form the foundation wall, then dig the hole. 

“In total, we will be installing 66 caisson piles for the east entrance at a depth of between 30 to 56 feet into the ground,” said Scott Shaw, Cedarvale Superintendent. “If the weather cooperates with us, it will take us about 5 to 6 weeks to complete this phase of shoring.”