By Lynda Myer
In order to conclude the tunneling contracts on Melbourne’s SRL East rail transport project, three consortia have been shortlisted.
The intended shortlist is:
- CPB Contractors Pty Ltd, Ghella Pty Ltd, and Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd – companies involved in Brisbane’s Cross River Rail, Sydney Metro, Vancouver’s Broadway Millennium Subway, and the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal
- John Holland Pty Ltd and Gamuda Berhad trading as Gamuda (Australia) Branch. These companies have experience building Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel, Sydney Metro Northwest Tunnel, Malaysia’s Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit, and Melbourne’s City Loop
- Webuild SpA and GS Engineering and Construction Australia Pty Ltd – companies with experience in projects including Melbourne’s North East Link tunnels, Copenhagen’s Cityringen, and projects in the Middle East and Asia
In addition to this shortlist, a list of five bids that includes Bouygues Construction Australia Pty Ltd, Samsung C&T Corporation, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co Ltd could not reach the final three.
Situating between Cheltenham and Box Hill, delivery of 26km of twin tunnels and six new underground stations will be up to SRL East.
Although the initial works on SRL East are currently undergoing, the determined date for major works was on August after that the ministerial endorsement of an independent planning panel’s key recommendations.
Using 10 TBMs to excavate the twin tunnels, tunneling process is due to commence in 2026. Two separate contracts, granted from the shortlist of three, will include the tunneling works. While the first contract is slated to be awarded next year for twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley, the second is to build tunnels between Glen Waverley and Box Hill.
Delivery of at least 92% local content (excluding TBMs) by contractors will provide a boost for Victoria’s steel and concrete industry.
