By Rose Bell
TBM Jessie with 1,1100-tonne weight is the fifth tunnel boring machine (TBM) that as part of the Sydney Metro West extension project was commissioned by Sydney Metro. This machine was named after Jessie Street (1889-1970) who was an activist, feminist and lifelong campaigner for women’s rights, the peace movement, and the elimination of discrimination against Aboriginal people.
In order to getting ready to launch the TBM to build Sydney’s second under-harbour rail line, Sydney Metro West is working deep beneath the harbour.
The location of starting up TBM Jessie will be The Bays to commence carving out a 2.3-kilometre tunnel to Hunter Street in the CBD.
As part of the City & Southwest project, this follows Sydney Metro’s first successful crossing between Blues Point and Barangaroo.
The location of launching sixth and final TBM will also be The Bays later this year.
Running under Sydney Harbour, alongside the iconic Anzac Bridge, heading to the Pyrmont Station site, the TBMs will continue beneath Darling Harbour before reaching the Hunter Street Station site in the heart of the Sydney CBD.
Being specifically designed to bore in the highly pressurised conditions that are expected under Sydney Harbour, this machine is the first mixed shield (slurry) TBM to be used on Metro West.
The advantages of Sydney Metro West will be double rail capacity between the two CBDs by connecting Parramatta to Hunter Street, as well as linking new communities to rail services and supporting employment growth and housing supply.
