Giant drilling machines meet under Melbourne as the Metro Tunnel begins to take shape.

The Metro Tunnel hit a significant milestone today when giant drilling machines met 30m underground. Take a look inside Melbourne’s $11 billion project as it starts to take shape under the CBD.

Giant drilling machines have met 30m underground as the Metro Tunnel begins to take shape.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan went below the city this morning to inspect progress of the $11 billion project.

“This breakthrough is a huge achievement and the culmination of months and months of hard work,” Ms Allan said.

“These giant roadheaders have been working day and night underground, building the Metro Tunnel — to run more trains, more often, across Melbourne.”

Work under Franklin St and Bowen St for the construction of the Metro rail tunnel. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The Metro Tunnel build will cost $11 billion. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Giant drilling machines have met 30m underground today. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Minister Jacinta Allan inspects work under Franklin St and Bowen St. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Work under Franklin St and Bowen St . Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The three drills have been mining station caverns and passenger connections beneath Swanston St for the new State Library Station.

In total, more than 500,000 tonnes of material will be excavated — the equivalent of almost 70 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Seven machines — known as roadheaders — will be used in the CBD as part of the tunnel project.

Each weighs 118 tonnes, is 15m long and is lowered underground in separate pieces, before being reassembled.

Minister Jacinta Allan meets workers in the Metro Tunnel. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

At the time of Ms Allan’s visit more than 20 per cent of State Library Station had been excavated and is set to be finished by late-2020.

It is just one of many milestones in the state’s ongoing transport infrastructure works.

Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne this morning inspected the state’s newest additions to Melbourne’s bus fleet.

MORE NEWS:

HAVE YOU TRIED A CHINESE HAMBURGER?

SHOULD WE THINK TWICE ABOUT USING FACEAPP?

CALOMBARIS’ EXTRAORDINARY APOLOGY FOR UNDERPAYING STAFF

This included 18 of a new 100 buses being built as part of a $16 million order.

It comes as the Melbourne-based TTM Rail has been awarded the $1.6 million contract to fit out two X’Trapolis trains for High Capacity Signalling (HCS) to be tested on the Mernda Line.

Work has already begun to prepare the track between Epping and South Morang stations for testing in 2020.

[e-mail]