First section of Metro Tunnel completed as machines break through at Kensington
The Metro Tunnel has hit a major milestone after massive machines finished digging the project’s first stretch, with footage showing the moment they broke through the ground at Kensington. WATCH THE VIDEO
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Massive machines have finished digging the first stretch of the Metro Tunnel, with two 1.2km rail tunnels now finished between Kensington and the site of the future Arden station.
The major milestone was completed after the project's second tunnel boring machine, named after women's cricket captain Meg Lanning, broke through to the west.
The delicate operation required the machines to dig under Moonee Ponds Creek, CityLink and existing rail corridor and through changing ground conditions such as clay and basalt.
The entrance point at Kensington was flooded to balance groundwater levels as the giant cutterhead broke through and then drained as the tunnel was completed.
Digging is about to ramp up to unprecedented levels, with all four huge tunnel boring machines to be working deep under Melbourne over the next few months.
Staff are following strict safety procedures to ensure work on the $11 billion project continues while restrictions are in place.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said the Metro Tunnel was helping to support jobs.
“We’re working closely with our construction partners, unions and employees to ensure construction can continue safely and we can continue to achieve milestones like this on the Metro Tunnel," she said.
“Whether it’s our major transport infrastructure projects that are employing thousands of Victorians, or those working hard across the construction industry – I thank them for their important role in delivering key projects and supporting our economy at this time.”
The two tunnel boring machines that have broken through at Kensington, Meg and Joan, will be reassembled at Arden and begin digging towards Parkville.
Another two machines, named after wartime hero Alice Appleford and the state's first female MP Millie Peacock, are being built under St Kilda Rd and will soon tunnel from Domain to South Yarra.
The Metro Tunnel is scheduled to be completed in 2025 and by that time will have excavated enough dirt to fill the MCG 1.2 times.
Melbourne's train network will be able to cater for an extra 500,000 peak-hour passengers once high-capacity services begin running through the tunnel.
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