The Sydney Metro West project has ordered two tunnel boring machines to be used in the construction of rail tunnels. The first machine is set for delivery by year’s end and will start working on completing this vital task right away.
The $1.96 billion Central Tunnelling Package was awarded to the ACCIONA Ferrovial Joint Venture in July and includes two TBM projects.
The Herrenknecht AG, a technology and market leader in the area of mechanised tunnelling systems was contracted to design, build and deliver high precision TBMs, following a global tender process.
ACCIONA Ferrovial was awarded $1.96 billion Central Tunnelling Package.
The TBM machines will tunnel an average of 200 metres per week and be operated by 15 workers every shift as they dig 11 kilometres through rock to build a tunnel linking The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park.
Among the six TBMs being used to build the 24-kilometre tunnel between Sydney CBD and Parramatta. The two borers, 1266 tonne and 165 metre long double-shield hard rock gripper type machines were designed for excavation through sandstone or shale which means they’ll be able to complete the work efficiently.
These machines will be the ultimate in construction equipment, with design improvements taken on board from more than 30 kilometres of tunnels constructed for Sydney Metro Northwest and City & Southwest.
(Source: https://www.insideconstruction.com.au/section/contracts-tenders/tbms-ordered-for-sydney-metro-west/)