Tunnelling is progressing on Melbourne’s North East Link, as the first of two TBMs has excavated the first kilometre of tunnels.
Spark Consortium launched TBM Zelda in August, and TBM Gillian in September to excavate the 6.5km-long road tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen.
The two TBMs are now under Yallambie. TBM Zelda is excavating the northbound tunnel and has completed the 1km milestone, while TBM Gillian has just passed 700m on the southbound tunnel.
As they move forward, both machines are installing concrete segments made locally in Benalla. Concrete culverts made in Echuca are also being installed behind each TBM to form a service route for maintenance vehicles inside the tunnels.
Next year the two Herrenknecht TBMs will break through near Lower Plenty Road where on and off ramps are being built. They will be relaunched to continue their journey towards Bulleen.
In the southern section of the North East Link tunnels, mined tunnelling is under way between Manningham Road and Trinity Grammar, with five large road headers chipping away at the rock layer and applying sprayed concrete lining.
Tunnelling will be up to 45m underground to build the road that will pass traffic under instead of through local suburbs.
More than 8,000 workers are currently working across North East Link as part of 12,000 jobs the project is creating.
The tunnels are being built using 100% renewable electricity, and the spoil is being reused across North East Link and other transport sites where possible.
Spark consortium comprises Webuild, GS Engineering and Construction, CPB Contractors, China Construction Oceania, Ventia, Capella Capital, John Laing Investments, DIF and Pacific Partnerships.
