Design and Construction of the Deepest North American Underground Station - Station Edouard Monpetit, Montreal, Canada

Abstract: With the increased need for public transportation in densely populated areas, new transit projects start including more and more interstations and tunnel rework. To facilitate mobility across the Greater Montreal Region (Canada), The Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) includes a deep underground station which connects the deeply sitting reworked tracks to the University campus located above. The tracks being located at approximately 70 m below surface, the Édouard-Montpetit station is expected to be the deepest in North America, surpassing the famous Forest Glen Station. This paper will present the design and construction of this deep underground station and the various challenges and solutions put forth for its successful completion. The objective of this paper is to serve as a valuable example for future deep excavation performed in urban area, in the close vicinity of highly sensitive structures.