By rosebell
TBM Gillian and TBM Zelda that are building the Australian state of Victoria’s longest road tunnels have been relaunched on the North East Link project.
Both of these15.6m diameter Herrenknecht machines broke through at Lower Plenty Road earlier this year and currently been serviced and moved through the 30m-deep box, while relaunching to continue digging the remaining stretch of the 6.5km tunnels to Bulleen.
The responsibility of operating TBMs is up to by Spark consortium comprising Webuild, GS Engineering and Construction, CPB Contractors, China Construction Oceania, Ventia, Capella Capital, John Laing Investments, DIF and Pacific Partnerships.
Considering that crews build the entry and exit ramps which are due to provide access to the tunnels and before building the new Borlase Reserve parklands will return green space to the community, construction will continue at the Lower Plenty Road site.
With the aim of completing works to realign Bulleen Road onto its permanent alignment, expected to be complete later this year, the teams are working at Bulleen on. Major upgrades along the Eastern Freeway and the M80 Ring Road are continuing, with the foundation structures being built to connect the freeways to the tunnels.
As Victoria’s largest road project and the biggest investment in Melbourne’s north-east, the scheduled date for completing the North East Link is 2028. As well as the tunnels, it includes the Hurstbridge Line Duplication, Fitzsimons Lane Upgrade and removing 21 level crossings.
