New picture shows excavated cavern for Metro Tunnel Station
An incredible new photo has revealed the massive cavern lying underneath Melbourne’s CBD which will house one of the city’s new Metro Tunnel stations. SEE THE PHOTOS
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A massive cavern that will house one of Melbourne’s new Metro Tunnel stations has been excavated as work ramps up beneath the CBD.
Premier Daniel Andrews toured the site of the future State Library Station on Thursday as crews begin work to build the platforms where thousands of commuters will board trains under the heart of the city.
It comes as a tunnel boring machine has dug close to 1km west of North Melbourne, with a second machine a close behind.
The two machines are on track to reach the tunnel’s entrance in Kensington within the next two months where they will then be taken out of the ground, returned to North Melbourne and directed towards Parkville and the city.
Mr Andrews said the completed cavern under the State Library of Victoria could easily fit the tallest of the Rialto Towers if turned on its side.
“That’s how significant this is,” he said.
“80,000 cubic metres of rock and soil that’s been taken out so far and still another 50,000 to go.”
State Library Station will be 240m long and 30m wide and have an underground connection to Melbourne Central Station for City Loop Passengers.
The state government is still negotiating with the consortium building the project about potential cost blowouts after the joint venture temporarily stopped tunnel boring machines from digging before Christmas over the dispute.
Mr Andrews said discussions with the companies were ongoing.
“When we need to update you on those discussions and any impact on cost we will,” he said.
“Today is not a day to do that.
“Today is a day to celebrate the work of 3000 amazing people who are getting things done.”
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Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said major projects were facing pressures across Australia’s eastern seaboard.
“You either work through those challenges or run away from them and we don’t run away from work,” she said.
“This is a big and complex project.”
It comes after a confusing name change for North Melbourne station was dumped over safety and cost concerns.