MEDIA ADVISORY - Photo Opportunity: Billy Bishop Airport Pedestrian Tunnel Breakthrough

Friday, August 23 at 11 a.m.
World's first underwater pedestrian tunnel connecting airport to mainland

TORONTO, Aug. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - The Toronto Port Authority (TPA) is inviting the media to a tunnel breakthrough photo opportunity on Friday, August 23 to mark the latest milestone of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Pedestrian Tunnel. When complete, the tunnel spanning the Western Gap in Toronto Harbour will be the world's first underwater pedestrian tunnel that connects to an island airport.

An excavator with a ramhoe attachment will break through the rock face at the construction site on the island side at 11 a.m. after tunneling over 600 feet below the Western Gap since the beginning of June 2013.

The pedestrian tunnel is expected to open in the second half of 2014 and will feature a modern, mechanized underground walkway that will be powered by 100 per cent green energy supplied by Bullfrog Power Inc. A brand new pavilion will also be constructed on the mainland at the foot of Eireann Quay while an atrium will be added to the island side airport terminal building. In addition to facilitating pedestrian movement to and from the airport, the tunnel will carry City of Toronto water and sanitary mains.

For more information on the Pedestrian Tunnel project, visit www.torontoport.com or www.bbtcatunnelproject.ca

About the Toronto Port Authority (www.torontoport.com):
The Toronto Port Authority (TPA) owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, the Port of Toronto (Terminals 51 and 52), and Toronto's Outer Harbour Marina. In addition to moving more than two million passengers through the airport in 2012, the Port Authority provides transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port, and owns and operates Toronto's largest freshwater marina. The Toronto Port Authority was incorporated on June 8, 1999 as a government business enterprise under the Canada Marine Act as the successor to the Toronto Harbour Commissioners.

Transportation Details:
Media traveling as walk-on ferry passengers will be directed to the site by volunteers. Media traveling by car will be directed to the appropriate parking area.

 

SOURCE: Toronto Port Authority

Media Contact: Yvonne Chiang, 416-863-2036, [email protected]