Three consortiums have been shortlisted to build North East Link’s twin road tunnels. The bidders are competing for the EUR 4.30 - 5.53 bn (AUS7-9 bn) major works contract as part of a Public Private Partnership to deliver this long-awaited infrastructure project.

•             OneLink: CPB Contractors, Samsung C&T Corporation, Egis Road Operations, UGL Engineering, Pacific Partnership, DIF Management Australia;

•             Spark: Salini Impregilo, GS Engineering and Construction, China Construction Oceania, Broadspectrum Australia, Capella Capital, John Laing Investments, and advisors Lend Lease Engineering;

•             ViaNova: John Holland Group, Acciona Construction, Lendlease Services, Plenary Group, Acciona Concesiones.

The selected contractor will build the twin tunnels and design the entire project, including its new interchanges, freeway upgrades and paths for pedestrians and cyclists. This major construction will start in late 2021, and early works to prepare for this begin early 2020 following planning approvals.

CPB Contractors will lead the early works package, which includes a range of power, water and other utility works to reduce disruption when major construction starts. Click here and au/36 for the tunnelbuilder archive. Visit http://northeastlink.vic.gov.au . 36/19.

The consortium RIA (Rail Infrastructure Alliance) comprising John Holland (a subsidiary of Chinese firm CCCG), CPB Contractors (part of CIMIC Group, whose parent company is German construction firm Hochtief) and AECOM (the American multinational engineering and design firm) has been selected as the preferred bidders to build the Metro Tunnel entrances in Kensington and South Yarra at Melbourne: 9 km of twin tunnels beneath the CBD, in an effort to ease congestion on the City Circle and surrounding lines.

CPB Contractors and John Holland are equal construction partners in the contract, and AECOM is the design partner. The $1 billion works package will include cut and cover and tunnelling works at the eastern and western tunnel entrances to connect the new rail tunnel to the existing network, along with additional selected station upgrades, tunnel, track and signalling works along the Sunbury and Dandenong lines.

Site preparations ahead of portal construction will commence later this year, with most RIA works expected to be finished in line with the completion of the tunnels and stations, by the end of 2025. Click au/32 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au, https://www.aecom.com, https://www.cpbcon.com.au and http://www.johnholland.com.au.  29/18.

https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au =>

https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/about-the-project/news/preferred-bidders-for-the-rail-infrastructure-alliance

https://www.aecom.com/id/projects/melbourne-metro-tunnel/

https://www.cpbcon.com.au/news-and-media/news/cpb-contractors-preferred-1-billion-metro-tunnel-works/

http://www.johnholland.com.au=>http://www.johnholland.com.au/who-we-are/latest-news/john-holland-named-preferred-partner-for-iconic-metro-tunnel-project/

Three consortia have been short listed for Sydney metro's major construction and tunnelling contract: Line 1 (McConnell Dowell Corporation/Abigroup/Obayashi Corporation); Metro Primo (Leighton Contractors/SELI); and Thiess/John Holland JV. They will now compete for the contract to construct the first stage comprising 7 km-long twin tunnels of 5.7 m internal diameter from Central to Rozelle, including drainage, cross passages, underground stations and passenger entrances. Click here for the alignment. The contract will be awarded in the second quarter of 2010 and the line should start operating by 2015. Visit www.sydneymetro.nsw.gov.au. 33/09.

Queensland - au/30MotorwayThe Brisbane city council has appointed a Sinclair Knight Merz and Connell Wagner joint venture to plan the 5.5 km northern link road, which includes a 4.7 km tunnel under the inner-western suburbs of Brisbane, between the western freeway and the inner city bypass. The route will start at the Toowong roundabout and head northeast towards the city, running under suburbs such as Red Hill, Auchenflower, Rosalie, Paddington and Kelvin Grove. The detailed plan will be drawn up this year and pending approval, the project will go to tender in 2009. It is not expected to open until 2014. Click here to download the map. Visit www.skmconsulting.com and www.conwag.comThe northern link will be the fourth project in the TransApex ring road vision. Work has already started on the North-South Bypass Tunnel and the Hale Street Link, while the preferred tenderer for the Airport Link has just been named. 22/08.Expressions of interest are invited until 10th October, 2008 for the financing, design, construction, operation, maintenance of the Northern Link in Brisbane, consisting of parallel 5 km hard rock tunnels, safety and ventilation systems, fire protection and monitoring systems, and electronic tolling system. The purpose of the tunnel is to link the western freeway in Toowong to the Inner City bypass at Kelvin Grove under the TransApex plan inner-city motorway ring. The project is to be undertaken as public-private partnership. The Northern Link tunnel will enable motorists to drive from Brisbane's Centenary suburbs to the airport without stopping at a single traffic light. Planners need to go forward with the environmental impact statement. The objective is to take the process forward so that by Christmas 2009, a contract can be awarded before moving to financial close and seeing the commencement of tunnelling work and the ultimate completion in 2014. To register interest, visit www.evalua.com.au/etb/bcc/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=15892484#bottom or contact Queensland government, tel. +61 734037686 or e-mail judy.gold@brisbane.qld.gov.au 41/08.

The round of expressions of interest for the 4.7 km-long Northern Link tunnel, now a Brisbane City Council project, has closed after registration of seven consortia. Australian-led consortia are LBRJV (Baulderstone/Leighton), Transfield with Laing O'Rourke, and TunneLink (Abigroup/Thiess John Holland). The remaining four are: KEJV/Daelim, Korea; Dragados Northern Link, Spain; TransCity, Italy/Spain/Australia; and Northern Direct, UK/France. The tender process will be completed by end-June, 2010 for award by end of year. Project history and map at tunnelbuilder archive au/30, and visit www.ats.org.au/index.php?option=com_content and www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. 47/09.

  McConnell Dowell Constructors have been awarded a design and construction contract for the Bogong hydro power project by Australian Gas Light (AGL) Southern Hydro in Victoria. It is expected to be the largest hydropower project to be constructed in Australia in 25 years. The scope of work consists of approximately 6 km 5m-diameter headrace tunnel between McKay Creek and Bogong, two vertical shafts, a 1 km steel-lined high pressure tunnel, a power station to house twin 70 MW generators, and a tailrace outfall into neighbouring Lake Guy. The Bogong power station would be built adjacent to Bogong Village at the base of Lake Guy, augmenting the existing Kiewa hydro electric scheme. Bogong is scheduled to be fully commissioned by October 2009. Visit www.macdow.com.au and www.agl.com.au 42/06.

  Melbourne Water has awarded to John Holland, a member of the Leighton Holdings Group, a 6-year contract to assist in the delivery of a number of major sewer tunnelling projects. The projects involved are potentially worth AUD160 million. John Holland will provide pre-construction and construction services. Visit www.jhg.com.au and www.melbournewater.com 23/04.John Holland, a 99% owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings, who is itself 54% owned by Germany's Hochtief, has won a AUD301 million contract to build Melbourne Water's first stage of the northern sewerage project, which includes eight kilometres of sewerage tunnels in the northern suburbs of Melbourne to meet growing commercial and residential capacity demands. The sewers will range in size from 1.6 to 2.5 metres in diameter. Additionally, five major access shafts of up to 65 metres in depth and 13 metres in diameter will also be constructed, enabling two specially designed TBMs to be utilised. Project managers Connell Wagner and design joint venture SKM-Jacobs will be working alongside John Holland to deliver this project. Construction work is expected to commence shortly and this first stage of the two-stage project is due for completion by 2012. Visit www.nsp.net.au, www.leighton.com.au, www.johnholland.com.au, www.hochtief.com, www.conwag.com, www.skmconsulting.com and www.jacobs.com 33/07.Lovat signed a contract to supply a new RME115SE earth pressure balance TBM to John Holland for the construction of the Melbourne main sewer replacement. The 4-spoke chromium carbide plated mixed ground cutting head is equipped with back loading rippers (interchangeable with 394 mm disc cutters). The cutting head is powered by a 450 kW hydraulic drive system. Speeds range between 0-8.2 rpm with maximum torque of 1,040 kN. Located in the stationary shell is a two stage, two chamber integral airlock which is outfitted with an oxygen breathing system, pressure regulation system for maintaining a fixed set point of pressure to a maximum operating pressure of 4 bar. The 2.92 m-diameter mixed face TBM will bore a total of 2,088 metres with a maximum slope of 0.12%. The entire tunnel alignment is below the groundwater level where heights above the invert vary from 9 m to 11 m. Geology along the tunnel alignment consists of formations of Quaternary age collectively known as the Yarra delta group underlain by sequence of Tertiary formations. The basement geology of the site comprises folded Silurian sedimentary rock. These rocks generally occur well below the proposed tunnel alignment depth. The depth of cover above the tunnel crown level varies from 8 m to 12 m. The TBM is scheduled for delivery during the first part of 2009. Visit www.lovat.com and www.johnholland.com.au 28/08.

Three east options have been investigated for an extension of the M4 motorway to the City West Link and Parramatta Road. The first option, or short tunnel option, is for 3.6 km of twin tunnels connecting to both the City West Link and Parramatta Road at Haberfield. The second option (or long tunnel option) is for 6.6 km of twin tunnels connecting to the City West Link at Lilyfield and to Parramatta Road at Haberfield. The third option (or slot option) is a surface scheme, involving a lowered motorway in a 'slot' generally beside Parramatta Road and extending to Haberfield. All three options involve widening the M4 from four to six lanes between Concord Road and Homebush Bay Drive until the tunnel starts at North Strathfield. The New South Wales government's preferred option is the short tunnel model. The public exhibition process is open until 1st March. The short tunnel option would cost about A$1.4 billion, compared with A$2 billion for a 6.6 km tunnel surfacing near Anzac Bridge. The short tunnel would require two ventilation stacks and the long tunnel four, all within 500 m of entry and exit points. The tunnel will be privately funded, built and operated for about 30 years. Call for expressions of interest expected in mid-2004. Construction is expected to begin within two years and take three years. Read E-News Weekly 32/2003 & 29/2002. Visit www.rta.nsw.gov.au 03/04.

  $1 billion road and rail tunnel under the Brisbane river under planning. The 5 km North South Bypass Tunnel would link the southeast Freeway at Woolloongabba with the Inner-City Bypass at Bowen Hills. Pre-feasibility study completed in September, 2001. 01/02.The Brisbane City Council proposes to construct the north-south bypass tunnel which is intended to connect the M1 (Pacific motorway) and Ipswich Road to the south with the Inner City Bypass to the north of the Central Business District / Fortitude Valley. The proposed route will generally follow the alignment of Ipswich Road/Main Street at Woolloongabba in the south, cross under the Brisbane River beneath the Story Bridge and the river bank at Kangaroo Point and then proceed through Fortitude Valley and exit at Bowen Hills northeast of the city, where it would connect with the Inner City Bypass. The project, which will consist of twin 4.7 km two-lane tunnels, is part of the implementation of the Transport Plan for Brisbane 2002-2016. Given the length, a TBM is the most likely technology to construct it. The project is in the detailed feasibility stage. More in E-News Weekly 38/2004. Read E-News Weekly 10/2004, 11/2003, 30/2002 & 16/2002. Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au 37/04.The Brisbane City Council invites qualified groups to express and register their interest in bidding for the North-South Bypass Tunnel project. Deadline 29th April, 2005. The successful bidder's responsibilities will include financing, design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair of the NSBT during the concession period (about 35 years). Toll collection will also be required. The project would have two parallel road tunnels, with the main tunnels approximately 5.2 km in length and each with two lanes. The project would be constructed in rock below the city and under the Brisbane River. It would link the Inner City Bypass and Lutwyche Road in the north with Ipswich Road and the southeast Freeway in the south. There will be connections to the Inner City Bypass and Lutwyche Road at Bowen Hills, the southeast Freeway and Ipswich Road at Woolloongabba, and Shafston Avenue at Kangaroo Point; cross passages connecting the tunnels for emergency exits; a ventilation system for managing in-tunnel air quality; two ventilation outlets, one in Woolloongabba and one in Bowen Hills, and a ventilation fan station adjacent to each ventilation outlet; a fire and safety system, supported by CCTV surveillance; in-tunnel traffic management and control centre; and emergency service facilities. Download the expression of interest document from Brisbane City Council tenders at https://olr1.brisbane.qld.gov.au/etendering/app/ProjectDetails?id=2871or e-mail nsbtinfo@brisbane.qld.gov.au or cliff.chidlow@brisbane.qld.gov.au for more information. Also visit www.nsbt-eis.com 11/05.The three bidders for the 2 x 5.2 km north-south bypass tunnel are RiverCity Motorway including Leighton Contractors, Baulderstone Hornibrook and Bilfinger Berger Concessions, with consultants Maunsell, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Golders and EDAW Gillespies and bank ABN Amro; BrisConnections including Thiess, John Holland and Hochtief, with bank Macquarie Bank; and Brisbane Express Motorway including Bouygues, Egis and McConnell Dowell. Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au 27/05.Two teams are bidding for the DBFO contract for the 2 x 5.2 km north-south bypass tunnel (NSBT) on the east side of Brisbane. RiverCity Motorway (Leighton Contractors, Baulderstone Hornibrook and Bilfinger Berger Concessions) and BrisConnections (Thiess, John Holland and Hochtief) will submit their bids in December. The 12 m-diameter tunnels will pass through sedimentary and metamorphic rocks as well as Brisbane tuff. The SKM-Connell Wagner JV is the city's technical adviser. The contract is scheduled to be awarded next May, with construction expected to end in late 2009. Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au 39/05.RiverCity Motorway consortium of Leighton Contractors, Bilfinger Berger's Concessions and Baulderstone Hornibrook arms, and ABN Amro has won the bid to build, own and operate a 45-year concession on the 2 x 5.2 km North South Bypass Tunnel (NSTB) project in Brisbane. The contract, awarded by Brisbane City Council, is valued in excess of AUD2 billion. The exact cost of the project or council contribution cannot be revealed until the end of the financial year after the contract with the winning consortium is actually signed. The contract is expected to be finalized in late July, with works to begin as early as August with the tunnel due to open 49 months after. Two tunnel boring machines, roadheaders, and blasting would be used to build the tunnel, which will carry two lanes per tube. The tunnel will be operational by 2010. Click au/21. View video here. Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au, www.nsbt-eis.com, www.leightoncontractors.com.au and www.bh.com.au 19/06.The JV of Leighton Contractors, Baulderstone Hornibrook and Bilfinger Berger will receive two Herrenknecht hard rock TBMs (machines S-375 and S-376) for the NSBT (North-South Bypass Tunnel). They are 12,340 mm-diameter double shield machines, with respective lengths of 4,348 m for the first TBM and 4,067 m for the second, each featuring a cutterhead power of 4,200 kW and a cutterhead torque of 17,974 kNm. The geology is Brisbane tuff, Neranleigh-Fernvale beds and rhyolitic ignimbrite. The first stone was officially laid on 26th August on the entry points to the NSBT which will link Woolloongabba to Bowen Hills. The first delivery is expected in September 2007 with excavation starting in December 2007. Read E-News Weekly 29/2006. Visit www.herrenknecht.com 44/06.Infrastructure and engineering company United Group has finalised terms worth about AUD300 million for new works linked to the North South Bypass Tunnel (NSBT) in Brisbane. United Group has been nominated as mechanical and electrical subcontractor to the tunnel's builders, the Leighton Contractors and Baulderstone Hornibrook/Bilfinger Berger joint venture. United Group will look after the design, installation, and commissioning of all electrical, mechanical, controls, communications and fire services, as well as looking after ongoing maintenance of the tunnel for five years. Read E-News Weekly 29/2006. Visit www.unitedgroupltd.com and www.rivercitymotorway.net.au 06/07.

  Prefabricated reinforced concrete segment lined 1.3 km-long tunnel to be undertaken by Lovat TBM model ME101SE through calcareous and siliceous sands at 7 - 12 m depth commencing at junction of Jersey St and Salvado Rd and running eastwards, generally above water table except for final 300 m where cover reduces to 5 m. Consultants SMEC, contractors Transfield Tunnelling, owner Western Australia Water Corporation. Visit www.lovat.com and www.transfield.com.au August 2000. Lovat reports that the Transfield Tunnelling ME101SE TBM commenced excavation in September, 2000 on the 1.3 km sewer in calcareous and siliceous sands, loose to medium dense, fine to medium grained to depths of 7 to 12 m. To date, 322 rings have been erected with 54 rings November 11-14. Segments are 1 m-long and 150 mm-thick, forming an outer diameter of 2.45 m and an inner diameter of 2.15 m. Visit www.lovat.com www.smec.com.au and www.transfield.com.au December 2000.

Twin two-lane tunnels, each 3.8 km-long for M5 motorway east to international airport. Exit ramp 800 m-long at Princes Highway and 850 m-long entry and exit ramps at Marsh Street. Project also includes 1 km-long ventilation tunnel connecting to both tunnels at their mid-point to carry exhaust fumes to a shaft located in an industrial area to the north. Detailed design by Jacobs Associates. Hyder Consulting backed up by Golder Associates, Taywood Engineering and Alstom are designers for the design-construct team of Baulderstone Hornibrook Bilfinger & Berger jv. Excavation commenced mid-1999 for completion 2002. More information at www.jacobssf.com . October 1999. Meyco reports tunnels being driven by Mitsui roadheaders and supported by Ingersoll Rand CT rockbolts with 12,000 cu m of sprayed concrete final lining. Two sprayed concrete units in use: the Liebherr Meyco Spraymobile transferred from the Sydney Airport Link job; and a new Dieci Meyco sold to Bilfinger and Berger in Germany, and imported into Australia for the project. Client is the Road Transport Authority. Visit www.mbt.com and www.bub.de January 2000.   Estimated $815 million Lane Cove tunnel, between the M2 motorway at East Ryde and the Gore Hill freeway at Artarmon, approved by New South Wales government. Toll financing. Private sector financing welcomed. EIS is now on exhibition for public consultation. Construction of these twin 3.4 km two lane tunnels, with three lanes in large sections, will start in 2003, and is expected to take three years. Visit www.rta.nsw.gov.au 47/01.   Opening six months ahead of schedule on 9th December, 2001 of Australia's longest road tunnel, a twin 4 km-long tube with a four-lane dual carriageway, plus a 550 m tunnel under the Cooks River on the M5 East between Bexley Road and Marsh Street as part of Sydney Orbital Road. Excavation began in June 1999. Cost of $800 million. 51/01.   The four shortlisted candidates for the twin 3.4 km Lane Cove tunnel in Sydney are: Lane Cove Motorway consortium comprising Leighton Contractors and Deutsche Bank; Lane Cove Expressway consortium including Bilfinger Berger, its Australian subsidiary Baulderstone Hornibrook, the Commonwealth Bank and Transurban Infrastructure Developments; TunnelLink involving Obayashi, Hills Motorway, Macquarie Bank and Abigroup; and finally Lane Cove Tunnel consortium including Thiess, Transfield and ABN Amro. Project to be developed under BOOT concession. 29/02.   A feasibility study into a possible tunnel link between Sydney's M2 motorway and the F3 freeway to Newcastle has been delayed for up to six months. Consultants Sinclair Knight Merz will release the report in mid-2003. The study will examine different route options, including tunnels: a two- or three-lane 4 km tunnel from Spit Road to the Warringah Freeway, bypassing Spit and Military roads; a 6 km tunnel from the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation near Sydney Road, underneath the waterline past the Spit; and two tunnels, one from Burnt Bridge Creek to the Spit and the second from the other side of the bridge to the Warringah Freeway. Visit www.skmconsulting.com 51/02.  The four consortiums bidding for the 3.4 km Lane Cove tunnel project have been reduced to two after the groups headed by Transurban and Macquarie Bank have been eliminated. The remaining two candidates are Lane Cove Motorway consortium including Leighton Contractors and Deutsche Bank and Lane Cove Tunnel consortium including Thiess, Transfield and ABN Amro. Leighton Holdings has emerged a winner in the race for the contract through Leighton Contractors in the first consortium and its subsidiary Thiess and its share of Transfield Construction in the rival group. Click here 29/03.The Lane Cove Tunnel Consortium, including Thiess, John Holland, Transfield and ABN AMRO, is the preferred bidder to design, build, maintain and operate the Lane Cove tunnel with the final costs soaring to A$1.1 billion instead of the original A$850 million estimate, a 35% blow out. Most of the A$285 million blow out will be spent on additional ventilation. The 2 x 3.4 km Lane Cove tunnel is a key link in Sydney's orbital motorway network connecting the Gore Hill Freeway with the M2. Building is set to commence early 2004, with completion in 2007. Visit www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/content/tunnel/index1.htm 41/03.Zitron will design and supply a total of 120 jet fans to Alstom Australia for the 2 x 3.5 km Lane Cove tunnel. Each low sound fan, 1,600 mm in diameter, is designed to withstand high temperature rates of 250°C during two hours and will provide a power of 75 kW. Read E-News Weekly 16/2006, 4/2006 & 49/2005. Visit www.zitron.com 23/06.