Melbourne Metro Tunnel works start with arrival of 20-tonne boring machine

TUNNELLING will officially start on the Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project this week after the arrival of a “mini” tunnel boring machine from Japan.

TUNNELLING will officially start on the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project this week after the arrival of a “mini” tunnel boring machine from Japan.

The 20-tonne machine, named Emily-Rose, will dig a 190m long tunnel under St Kilda Rd between Albert Rd and Domain Rd to relocate a 120-year-old section of sewer.

The 5m long machine, costing $2.5 million, will be ­remote-controlled from a site office at Albert Rd.

MORE: PUBLIC GETS CHANCE TO NAME NEW STATIONS

It will complete the short stretch of tunnelling in less than a fortnight.

Premier Daniel Andrews said: “This mini tunnel boring machine ... will help us complete the next stage of this important project.

“This project has been talked about for a very long time, it’s the biggest public transport project our state and indeed our nation has ever seen.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Public Transport minister Jacinta Allan. Picture: AAP

“This is 9km of track and five new underground stations creating a world-class public transport system that every Victorian deserves so we’re very pleased to mark this ­milestone.”

Major tunnelling works on the $11 billion project will begin under the city centre next year.

Full-size TBMs, which will do the bulk of the tunnelling, are about 100m long and weigh up to 1000 tonnes.

Meanwhile, Mr Andrews welcomed a competition allowing Victorians to come up with names for Metro’s five new underground railway stations, which have been given the working titles of Arden, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South and Domain.

Mr Andrews said ideas for permanent station names could draw on a range of elements including geographic locations, local heritage, and people who have made a significant historical contribution to Victorian life.

“I think everyone will have their own unique perspective,” he said.

“Some people will look at the physical locations of these stations, others will look at sporting heroes and other icons of our state.

“Let’s wait and see how the naming competition unfolds.

“There will be a vetting committee, so we’ll get sensible names.”

The Melbourne Metro Project will build 9km of twin tracks to link South Yarra to Kensington, easing congestion in the City Loop.

The completed tunnel is due to open in 2026.

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