Pittsburgh, PA – Port Authority is pleased to announce that the 500-ton tunnel boring machine (TBM) that has been mining the first of two tunnels as part of the North Shore Connector Project made its appearance in Downtown Pittsburgh Thursday, July 10, 2008.
Since mining began on January 22, 2008, the tunnel boring machine advanced 35-40 feet per day, working its way from the North Shore launch pit, beneath the Equitable Resources building and under the Allegheny River to the receiving pit located under Stanwix Street near the intersection of Penn Avenue.
The machine’s arrival marks the completion of the first of twin-tunnels as part of the North Shore Connector project that joins the South Hills, Downtown Pittsburgh and the city’s developing North Shore neighborhood via a 1.2- mile extension of Port Authority’s light-rail system.
Stanwix Street between Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Penn Avenue will continue to be closed for several weeks as crews undertake the intricate process of turning the TBM around to prepare it to begin boring the second tunnel back to the North Shore.
The animated badger synonymous with the North Shore Connector’s “Bore to the Shore” logo is no longer nameless as of today.
Thanks to the many entries courtesy of those participating in the Name the Badger contest on www.theboretotheshore.com, the hard-working creature is now known as Boris.
More than 100 names were suggested by contest participants. Boris was chosen from a list of names that also included Digger, Augie, Diggit, BoDiggity, Holey-Moley, Burghie, Spade, Moler and Bucky.
Naming of the badger coincides with the 500-ton tunnel boring machine’s (TBM) holing-through at the receiving pit located underneath Stanwix Street in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Mary Harris is the grand prize winner of the contest and will receive a Bore to the Shore T-shirt and hard hat, along with a tour of the tunnel during construction, and autographed photo of the badger and VIP treatment when the North Shore Connector opens for service in 2011. The North Shore Connector is a vital transportation project that will effectively and efficiently link Station Square, Golden Triangle and the North Shore area, creating a cohesive business district. It will also enhance $1 billion in development occurring on the North Shore and benefit current North Side employment, retail, residential and education centers along with numerous dining and entertainment destinations.
Benefits of the North Shore Connector project, slated for completion in 2011, are numerous. The light-rail extension will allow those wishing to visit North Shore attractions such as Carnegie Science Center (690,000 annual visitors), PNC Park (1.8 million visitors in 2007), Heinz Field (497,000 visitors in 2007) along with corporate centers of Del Monte Foods (600 employees) and Equitable Resources (450 employees), to leave their vehicles behind. Getting to the North Shore will be as easy as leaving your vehicle at a park-and-ride, boarding a train and enjoying the ride into Downtown and the North Shore.
“Reaching Downtown Pittsburgh is clearly a significant milestone for the tunneling aspect of the North Shore Connector project,” Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Stephen Bland said. “This extension of our light-rail system to the North Shore will be a valuable asset that will effectively connect Station Square, The Golden Triangle and North Shore neighborhoods and create a cohesive business district. The North Shore Connector will also support economic development occurring on the North Shore and North Side neighborhoods, expand rapid transit service options for the region and improve bus operations efficiency.”