By rosebell
Before building the Northern Tunnels, a second precinct for Australia’s River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project has been established.
With the aim of commissioning the third TBM that is due to build the twin 2.2km Northern tunnels, work has commenced on the diaphragm walls for the TBM launch pit at the Central North Construction Precinct at Richmond.
In order to constructing the Northern and Southern Tunnels, three Herrenknecht TBMs will work concurrently and two 4m-diameter TBMs are going to excavate the cross-passages. While the location of these machines are at every 120m along the length of the main tunnels, the scheduled date for arrival of the first TBM in Adelaide is later this year.
Also for enabling the first two TBMs to be launched from the Southern Precinct at Clovelly Park to construct the 4.5km Southern tunnels, work is already undergoing and digging process is planned to begin in the second half of 2026.
Involving nine 14m-high silos, which can each hold 90m3 of bentonite slurry, a bentonite plant has recently been built at Central North to produce and recycle bentonite slurry.
A water treatment plant is being built to treat and reuse water during the tunneling process, as well as a 100m3 buffer pond to hold spare water produced by construction activities.
Supplying over than 55,000 segments for the tunnels, construction is under way on the manufacturing facility and later this year is expected time for starting segment production by the precast plant.
According to South Australia deputy premier Susan Close:” The establishment of the Central North Construction Precinct was a significant milestone in creating a non-stop South Road that would ease congestion, improve safety and create more connected communities.Every step forward on the River Torrens to Darlington Project brings South Australians closer to a more modern transport network that strengthen our state and serve our community for generations to come.”
