The tunnel boring machine (tuneladora in Spanish) that has been excavating a four-kilometer stretch below Guadalajara’s historic center for almost two years finally finished its labor this week.
The 700-ton machine emerged from the darkness at Plaza de la Bandera, one of five underground stations on the 18-station, 21.5-kilometer route that will run from Zapopan to Tlaquepaque, via the city center.
Sometimes referred in English to as “the mole,” workers on the city’s third Tren Ligero (subway) line appropriately gave the Spanish-made machine the moniker “La Tapatia.”
The machine started work on June 6, 2016, and completed its 4,005-meter trajectory in 23 months, 18 days.