Metro Tunnel Project in Victoria, Australia

ongoing

An international search is underway for a supplier to build the four massive Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) that will build Australia’s biggest ever public transport project – the Metro Tunnel in Victoria. The four TBMs needed for the $11 billion project will be more than 100 metres long, weigh up to 1,000 tonnes and be custom-built to grind through Melbourne’s unique ground conditions. It will take up to 18 months to build the mammoth machines before they’re tested and shipped in segments to Melbourne. They will then be delivered to launch sites at Arden and Domain, where they will be lowered into the ground and reassembled on-site by local workers. They will be in the ground, operating 24/7 in 2019. As they work up to 40 metres below Melbourne’s surface, they will progressively install concrete linings to support the excavated tunnel. Each TBM will include offices, kitchens and toilets, and be operated around the clock by a crew of around 15 people. The project will create nearly 7,000 local jobs and will be completed in 2026.