The Government of Canada, Province of Alberta and City of Edmonton are marking the end of the 2012 construction season with a bang as tunnelling crews working on the North Light Rail Transit (LRT) to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) project break through the wall at Churchill Station, connecting the North LRT with Edmonton’s existing LRT network.

While North LRT construction is highly visible on Edmonton streets, the project’s most significant milestone to date was achieved below ground. A very dedicated crew has been working around the clock since January 2012, digging twin tunnels between 105 Avenue and Churchill Station through which LRT will start running in 2014.

“This is a great day for Edmonton,” says Mayor Stephen Mandel. “As part of the City’s transportation master plan, the new North LRT will play a key role in developing a cleaner, greener Edmonton and providing affordable, sustainable transportation for thousands of students, workers and commuters. Today we are one big step closer to that goal.”

In addition to the completion of the North LRT tunnel, this year’s work included construction of all surface track for the North LRT and foundation work for the Grant MacEwan, Kingsway/Royal Alex and NAIT LRT stations. Development of the stations will continue over the winter months.

The $755-million project was jointly funded by the Government of Canada, Government of Alberta and City of Edmonton. The Government of Canada is contributing up to $100 million from the Building Canada Fund. The Province of Alberta is contributing $497 million in GreenTRIP funding and the City of Edmonton is contributing $158 million.