(19/11/2018)   

The tunnel has been completed by the last of the three tunnel boring machines (TBM) used on the project, named “Luz de América”. This TBM began its work in April 2017 and has excavated more than nine kilometres, from Solanda Station to its arrival at the El Arbolito extraction shaft, passing through the historical city centre, which was declared a World Heritage Site 40 years ago.

The “Luz de América” TBM has broken the world record after drilling through 1,489.5 metres in just 30 days. The machines “La Guaragua” and “La Carolina” have also worked on the construction of the more than 19.5 kilometres of tunnel that will constitute Line 1 (see piece of news).

Quito Metro’s future Line 1, which is due to be completed by late 2019, will be 22.9 km long, from Quitumbe to El Labrador, making it the backbone of Quito’s new public transport system.