Tunnelling with tunnel boring machines

Artist impression of The Metro Tunnel Project’s first tunnel boring machine

The Metro Tunnel Constructing the tunnels Project will deliver twin nine kilometre Tunnelling between North Tunnelling between the Domain Melbourne and Kensington, and Precinct and South Yarra, and rail tunnels from North Melbourne to the CBD the Domain Precinct to the CBD Kensington to Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Two TBMs are assembled in the South Yarra as part are assembled in the station box at station box at the Anzac Station site the Arden Station site. The TBMs in the Domain Precinct (Domain). of a new end-to-end are launched separately, and tunnel The TBMs are launched separately towards the new tunnel entrance and tunnel towards the new tunnel Sunbury to Cranbourne/ at Kensington. entrance at South Yarra. Pakenham line. During tunnelling, the TBMs pipe During tunnelling, the TBMs pipe In addition to the the excavated material (slurry) the excavated material (slurry) back back to the Arden Station site and to site at Edmund Herring Oval in tunnel, five new line the new tunnel with curved Domain, and line the new tunnel underground stations concrete segments. with curved concrete segments. will be built. The TBMs arrive at Kensington The TBMs arrive at South Yarra and are transported back to the and are transported back to the Arden Station site. The TBMs are Anzac Station site. The TBMs are reassembled in the station box reassembled in the station box and and relaunched towards Parkville, relaunched towards the CBD, under before tunnelling towards the CBD. the Yarra River.

Visit us at TBMs tunnelling in the west TBMs tunnelling in the east Metro

Tunnel HQ TBM TBM TBM TBM 125-133 Swanston JOAN MEG ALICE MILLIE Street, Melbourne

Sign up for Metro Tunnel metrotunnel.vic.gov.au project updates Existing Existing Cranbourne/ Sunbury Line Pakenham Line

Arden City Loop Moonee Kensington Tunnels South Ponds Yarra Yarra Creek CBD River 27 METRES Depths measured DEEP 15 16 METRES from rail level to METRES 37 28 METRES METRES DEEP average ground level DEEP DEEP DEEP

Indicative station depth

What type of TBMs will be used What is the geology like? Managing noise and vibration for the Metro Tunnel? The geology of the area is extremely during tunnelling A TBM is a machine that is used to variable. The TBMs will be required Managing noise and vibration during excavate tunnels. TBMs can bore to excavate through very soft soils tunnelling will be based on a best through a variety of ground conditions, such as Coode Island Silt, and very practice approach as undertaken by from hard rock to sand. hard basalts under the Yarra River Metro Tunnel’s contractors on similar and in some sections of the western The Metro Tunnel Project will use projects around the world. alignment. Many sections of the tunnel mixshield TBMs – commonly known as Prior to tunnelling, comprehensive alignment feature a ‘mixed-face’ slurry TBMs – that are purpose-built to geological testing and environmental geology, which is both parts hard suit the local ground conditions along assessments are completed. and soft. the tunnel alignment. Once the TBMs Property condition surveys will be cutterhead bores through the ground, How big are the TBMs? offered to properties based on an the excavated material will be mixed environmental assessment. with slurry and transported back to Each TBM is 7.28 metres in diameter, the aboveground slurry treatment plant. 120 metres long and weighs more than Properties located near the path 1,100 tonnes. The heaviest component of the TBMs may experience low The excavated material will be is the cutterhead, which weighs levels of noise or vibration, however separated from the slurry and 100 tonnes. individuals experience noise transported to a disposal site. and vibration differently. During To construct the tunnels, the TBMs How fast do the TBMs travel? tunnelling, noise, vibration and ground will progressively line each tunnel with movement will be managed in line On average the TBMs will move curved concrete segments. The twin with strict Environmental Performance around 10 metres every 24 hours. tunnels will comprise 56,000 individual Requirements. concrete segments. How many people will be Properties located near the path of Each TBM is equipped with a state- operating each TBM? the TBMs will be contacted with of-the-art navigation system that further information prior to tunnelling will ensure accurate tunnel alignments A crew of up to 10 people, including commencing in their area. are achieved. a TBM operator, will work on the TBM at any one time.

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