Melbourne Metro excavation ready to go next year Wednesday, 22 June 2016

The Victorian Government has announced that John Holland has been awarded the first major Melbourne Metro Tunnel contract, which will include excavating massive shafts in the centre of the city.

Two of the shafts will be built near the intersections of Swanston Street with Franklin Street and A'Beckett Street and will be used for underground construction of the CBD North Station. These shafts will be covered by massive acoustic sheds to reduce noise for neighboring residents and offices.

Construction of CBD South will be involve the partial demolition of the carpark underneath City Square near the intersection of SWanston Street and Collins Street.

The station shafts will be up to 35 metres deep and involve the excavation of 34 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of soil and rock from beneath the city.

“Next year, the face of our City will change as we dig 11 storeys below the CBD, and pave the way for Melbourne’s new Metro Tunnel and five new underground stations,” said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

“The Metro Tunnel will create the international-style train system we need, and we’re not wasting a moment – work starts within weeks, and major work will start in 2017.”

Other works in the package include the relocation and protection of up to 100 utilities, including gas, power and telecommunications services, and the 120 year old brick main sewer line under the Domain interchange.

These works will start within weeks, while work on the stations shafts will begin next year, following the conclusion of Environment Effects Statement (EES) process currently underway and formal planning approval for the project.

[A computer illustration of precast concrete rings being installed in the tunnels after the tunnel boring machines have passed through. Image: MMRA]

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