By rosebell
Considering that the heavy machinery is on site and construction activity has ramped up at the Southern Precinct in Clovelly Park, main construction works on the A$15.4bn (€8.76bn) South Australian project are officially under way on Australia’s River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project.
Providing the conditions for motorists to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington, the non-stop South Road project will allow saving up to 40 minutes of travel time in peak hour traffic.
Additionally, the Southern Precinct will become the site from where the TBMs will launch to construct the southern tunnels.
The plan will be deploying three Herrenknecht TBMs on the main tunnels. While two of them are going to build the twin 4.5km Southern Tunnels, digging of the twin 2.2km Northern Tunnels will be up to third one. The scheduled date for commencing TBM works for the Southern Tunnels is the second half of 2026.
The TBM components are being manufactured in Germany and China, before being assembled and factory tested in China. The first TBM is expected to arrive in Adelaide later this year.
Also the responsibility of excavating the cross passages between the main tunnels will be up to two smaller TBMs.
According to South Australia minister for infrastructure and transport Tom Koutsantonis: “No time had been wasted in getting on with the largest infrastructure project in South Australian history. The T2D Alliance has awarded its first package of works, with local company McMahon Services already delivering an important link road between Norrie Avenue and English Avenue in Clovelly Park, which will help maintain access to and from South Road during T2D main construction.”
He also added: “We have full confidence this state-shaping project will be open to traffic as promised by 2031, if not even earlier, providing South Australians with a range of transport, safety, economic and social benefits.”
