Giant boring machines working under city on Melb Metro Tunnel

Deep below the city a major phase of the $11 billion Metro Tunnel project is now under way with giant boring machines drilling a tunnel between the State Library and Parkville. Look inside the massive dig.

A MAJOR phase in Melbourne’s $11 billion Metro Tunnel project is now underway, with exclusive new pictures showing the massive digging effort underneath our city.

Giant tunnel boring machines are now working their way from Parkville to the future State Library Station.

In the past year, the two machines, named after Joan Kirner and Meg Lanning, have dug up new underground railway corridors stretching from Kensington, to Arden and the tip of the CBD.

New pictures obtained by the Saturday Herald Sun show the scale of work underway, with more than 371,000 cubic metres of rock and soil excavated from under the city.

A major phase in Melbourne's $11 billion Metro Tunnel project is take shape. Picture: Alex Coppel

Rail Projects Victoria director Linda Cantan said Parkville station was about 30m underground, with the tunnel diving lower as it made its way to the CBD.

“The projects going very well,” Ms Cantan said.

“We’ve been very lucky during lockdown that construction works could proceed.

“We’ve got four tunnel boring machines at work … At the moment we’re achieving about 75 to 80m per week in terms of progress.”

Hi-tech boring machines are working their way from the State Library to Parkville. Picture: Alex Coppel

A pair of 1.7km tunnels have also been completed between Domain and South Yarra, with digging to resume from the future Anzac Station before heading under the Yarra River.

It comes as work is also ramping up on the two new railway stations to be build under the heart of Melbourne.

The main cavern that will make up Town Hall Station is now excavated after six months of around-the-clock work, with State Library Station close behind.

Work is also beginning on two new stations. Picture: Alex Coppel

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said the project would connect the city’s key business, tourism and education centres.

“The Metro Tunnel is all about making it faster and easier for people to travel between the suburbs and the city,” she said.

“Our tunnel boring machines are powering along deep under our city to build this vital link for Melbourne.”

Builders Brian Dempsey, right, and Troy McDonald on the project which is expected to be completed in 2025. Picture: Alex Coppel

“Work on the Metro Tunnel has continued with strict safety measures during the pandemic – and it’s these big projects that will lead the state’s recovery and continue to provide good local jobs for Victorians.”

When completed in 2025, the tunnel will connect the Sunbury and Cranbourne lines, with passengers on high-capacity trains travelling to five underground stations through twin 9km tunnels.

It is expected to create space for more than half a million extra peak-hour passengers each week.

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Originally published as Giant boring machines working under city on Melb Metro Tunnel