Subway Shield: V‑ROD GFRP Bars Fortify TTC Subway North
The TTC Subway North project extends the Yonge–University line by 6 kilometers from Downsview Station into Vaughan, marking a major expansion of Toronto’s rapid transit network. Critical to tunnelling success was the use of Pultrall’s V‑ROD Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars in soft-eye zones carved into the diaphragm walls at launch and reception shafts. These non-metallic rebars resist corrosion in groundwater-rich soils and can be cleanly cut by Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), streamlining breakthroughs without damaging cutterheads or requiring manual rebar removal.
Beyond temporary soft-eyes, V‑ROD bars were also embedded in permanent concrete elements—shaft liners and station box walls—where exposure to de-icing salts and high humidity threatens traditional steel reinforcement. Lightweight and electrically neutral, V‑ROD improves construction safety and reduces long-term maintenance. By integrating advanced composite rebars, the TTC Subway North project sets a new benchmark for durability, efficiency and dramatically reduces overall carbon footprint in urban tunnelling.