A 135t roadheader made the first breakthrough in the 5.1km Airport Link project, Australia’s longest road tunnel, in Brisbane on 18 June.
The breakthrough occurred in the northbound tunnel as the roadheader travelled south from Windsor and cut through the tunnel face at Bowen Hills, 22m below the surface of Lutwyche Road.
“The roadheader that has just broken through is one of 11 machines excavating the 1.5 km distance of tunnel between Truro Street, Windsor and Federation Street, Bowen Hills,” said Gordon Ralph, project director, Thiess John Holland, which is designing and constructing Airport Link.
Construction of the tunnels is being undertaken using a combination of TBMs, roadheader machines and cut and cover tunnelling.
The Thiess John Holland joint venture is contracted by BrisConnections who are responsible for delivering the Airport Link project together with Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and Airport Roundabout Upgrade, an ASD4.8 billion infrastructure investment by the State Government.
Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) requires 15 km of tunnelling in total, encompassing road and busway tunnels and connecting ramps.
A total of 17 roadheader machines are now carving out the Airport Link and Northern Busway tunnels – the largest number of roadheaders to be used on an Australian project.
BrisConnections Chairman, Trevor Rowe AM, said the efforts to date bring us one step closer to the operation of Airport Link, scheduled to open in the next two years.
“By mid 2012, Airport Link in conjunction with the Airport Roundabout Upgrade, will remove up to 18 sets of traffic lights for motorists travelling from the city to Brisbane Airport and Australia Trade Coast, reducing travel time by up to 50%,” he said.
Thiess John Holland is also preparing to launch the first TBM from Kalinga Park, Toombul to excavate the Airport Link mainline tunnel this month.
