Long-Distance Microtunnelling at Toronto Pearson International Airport

Abstract

Identified as the last link in the twinning of Peel Region’s East Trunk Sewer, the Etobicoke Creek Trunk Sanitary Sewer Twinning project was initiated to service future development in the sewershed. The project involved long-distance microtunnelling below operating surfaces that included a runway, two taxiways and access roadways at Canada’s busiest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport (TPIA). This paper discusses the challenges overcome in completing this project including working within TPIA’s restricted “airside” environment, long-distance pipe jacking in mixed-ground conditions, providing for tunnel face access under hyperbaric conditions and minimizing tunnelling impacts to airport operations during construction.