Completing the First Section of Line 3: Tunnel Boring Machine Roars as it Emerges at Balboa

The Panama tunnel boring machine emerged and completed its first major task: the first section of the Line 3 Metro tunnel. It excavated 3.1 kilometers, installed 1,560 concrete rings, and removed more than 800,000 cubic meters of earth beneath the city, heading towards West Panama.  The machine began its journey on September 18, 2024, from the Farfán industrial area, and this weekend it appeared at the Balboa well, the point where the closure of this phase is marked. 

President José Raúl Mulino is on site, who gave the final order to remove the tunnel boring machine and acknowledged the progress made so far.  With this departure, the tunnel boring machine enters a three-month technical pause. During this time, it will be inspected piece by piece: visual inspections, mechanical adjustments, and electrical checks. This is all part of the protocol before starting the next stage of excavation.