Photos show how construction of Metro Tunnel and City Loop projects compare

Recently unearthed images of the construction of Melbourne’s City Loop show just how far technology has come for the Metro Tunnel build.

Tunnel boring images of the City Loop construction in Melbourne last century have been unearthed to show how the state-shaping project compares to the new Metro Tunnel.

As the $13.7 billion Metro project approaches its halfway mark, construction giant WeBuild has unearthed photos of its team’s work on the Loop — when the company was known as Codelfa Cogefar — in the 1970s.

Workers in the City Loop tunnel as it was being constructed in the 1970s. Picture: WeBuild

The Metro Tunnel on November 6, 2020, when inspected by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (L) and Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan (R). Picture: Daniel Pockett

While the crew and equipment look visibly different, the scale of the tunnel boring machines and city closures are familiar.

There are other similarities too. The Loop ballooned in cost from $80 million on paper to $650 million in reality.

Last week, the Andrews Government revealed Metro’s costs had blown out from $11 billion to $13.7 billion.

Tunnel boring machines break ground during construction of the City Loop. Picture: Webuild.

The modern TBMs on the Metro Tunnel have made quick progress. This one, named Joan, completed the journey from Arden Station to the tunnel’s western entrance in Kensington. Picture: Supplied

Inside the City Loop in the 1970s. Picture: Webuild.

Inside the Metro Tunnel with worker Troy McDonald. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Webuild, which until recently was known as Salini Impregilo, unearthed the images as it re-establishes itself in Melbourne.

The company is part of a consortium bidding for $7-9 billion of work on the North East Link toll road, and has now launched a scholarship fund with the University of Melbourne’s engineering department to boost local skills training.

City Loop construction takes shape. Test trains drove through the site for the first time in December, 1980.

The entrance to one of the Metro project’s tunnels. Picture: Alex Coppel

One of the scholarships is aimed at getting more women into engineering.
Dean of Engineering at the University of Melbourne, Professor Mark Cassidy, said things were changing rapidly in the sector.

“About 34 per cent of our students are female, which is actually the highest proportion in Australia, so we’re very proud of that and we hope that these scholarships can attract more candidates to engineering and support their growth.”

Construction of the original “museum” station — now Melbourne Central — led to large-scale city disruption. Image: Webuild.

Inside the City Loop construction site. Image: Webuild.

Executive director of Webuild’s Asia-Pacific branch, Marco Assorati, said the company was focused on attracting young, talented people to major projects.

“Innovation is the key we use to face global challenges in a sustainable way, and we’re glad to explore this path with students and representatives of the University of Melbourne,” he said.

“Put simply, as long as female participation in engineering, construction and other STEM-related disciplines remains low, in the not too distant future we risk experiencing real skilled worker shortages that may stifle Melbourne’s ability to meet its own infrastructure needs.”