By ashleykaren
The first parts of the giant TBMs (tunnel boring machines) that will excavate the North East Link tunnels have finished their trip by sea to the Port of Melbourne and have been traveled to their new home in Watsonia.
On September 10, the first tunnel boring machine segments were transported from the Port of Melbourne to Watsonia on oversized trucks, in a convoy known as a ‘superload’. The superloads can be up to 60m long, more than 4m high, and over 9m wide and travel between the speeds of 5km/h and 40km/h.
This superload is the first of over 20 ones that will require traveling from the Port of Melbourne to Watsonia over the next six months.
The machine segments that are employed to construct these gigantic TBMs will reach progressively in 3 shipments over the coming months.
The details will be provided before each overnight superload delivery so that road users can prepare and avoid disruptions.
When the segments are provided on-site, the 2 tunnel boring machines will take about six months to assemble on-site, with the parts lowered into the ground by a 550-tonne crane.
Then, when assembled, the machine will work day and night as they excavate their way to Bulleen – with the community having the opportunity to assist with naming the TBMs later this year.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hPnDBwCj2k[/embedyt]
