TBM Ruby was launched at the beginning of September on a 1.1km journey from Pyrmont to the future Hunter Street Station.
At the beginning of September, the 1,100-tonne TBM began its 1.1km journey from Pyrmont to the future Hunter Street Station where it is expected to break through later this year.
The 1,100-tonne TBM will tunnel through Sydney sandstone at an average speed of 90m per week, to build the tunnel about 37m below the surface. She is expected to break through at Hunter Street Station later this year.
TBM Ruby will travel below Darling Harbour from the Australian Maritime Museum to King Street Wharf for 250m. These metro tunnels will be located 35m below the water surface level, where there is approximately 5m between the harbour floor and the top of the tunnel.
A team of 12 TBM operators working in 12-hour shifts will guide Ruby to the finish line. This complex dig will require precision as the TBMs tunnel within metres of the Australian Maritime Museum, the City East electricity cable tunnel and Wynyard Station.
In the coming weeks, TBM Jessie will be relaunched from Pyrmont to make the final trip to Hunter Street, building the parallel tunnel to TBM Ruby.
The TBMs will reach their final destination by the end of the year, completing the 2.3km section of tunnel between The Bays and Hunter Street. This includes the TBMs boring below Sydney Harbour three times at Rodd Point, Johnsons Bay and Darling Harbour and tunnelling within 25m of the Anzac Bridge.
The two TBMs made a double breakthrough at Pyrmont in July.
At Pyrmont the John Holland, CPB Contractors, and Ghella joint venture is progressing with bulk excavation and profiling in the underground station and crossover cavern. The next stage will involve detailed excavation along the edge walls of the invert, as well as the ramps that connect the TBM tunnel alignment at the western and eastern ends of the cavern.
This work, which will involve trimming and removing hard rock in small sections, progressing at approximately 60m every seven to 10 days for up to eight weeks, is due to commence today.
Tunnelling for Sydney Metro West began in early 2023 and major tunnelling has reached 90% completion for the 24km line that will connect Westmead to the Sydney CBD.
Sydney Metro West is targeting an opening date of 2032. The new line will double rail capacity between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.
