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.

The Leighton / Kumagai team is the preferred proponent for the New MetroRail City Project, which involves design and construction of tunnels and underground stations in the Perth Central Business District. The contractor will be responsible for all design and construction, as well as maintenance of underground structures and electrical and mechanical services for 10 years after completion. The total length of the route through Perth is 2.2 km. It includes 700 m of twin bored tunnel constructed using a TBM and 700 m of cut-and-cover tunnel. New underground stations at William Street, Esplanade and Perth Station. The tunnel along the Perth foreshore will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method. From Esplanade station through the city, twin tunnels will be bored deep below William Street, using the TBM. The cut-and-cover method will again be used on the final section of the tunnel which will connect to the Joondalup Line. Contract award expected by early 2004 for completion in mid 2006. Visit www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au, www.pta.wa.gov.au and www.leighton.com.au 48/03.A new 60 m-long, 300 tonne, 6.9 m-diameter Mitsubishi EPB TBM has been installed in Perth to bore the first of a twin bored tunnel, 744 m in length, which forms part of the southern suburbs railway to Mandurah, 75 km south of Perth. The TBM will install precast concreting rings, manufactured locally by Humes. The lining consists of six segments (5 plus the key). The internal diameter is 6,160 mm. The first tunnel will be driven between October 2005 and early 2006. The TBM will then be taken apart and reassembled at the new below ground station at The Esplanade for the second tunnel drive in 2006. Tunnelling will continue 24 hours a day until completed. The TBM will cut through a mixture of sand and clay. Approximately 100,000 cu m of earth will be removed during the tunnelling process, using Schoema equipment. The machine is the 1,649th TBM manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The tunnel, which forms part of a 2.2 km section, has cut-and-cover sections at each end, for a total length of about 700 m. Visit www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=197, www.leighton.com.au, www.mhi.co.jp/tekken/e/index.htm, www.schoema-locos.de and www.humes.com.au 41/05.

The Eastern Freeway (Mitcham-Frankston Freeway) is to be extended a distance of 5 kilometres from its current terminal at Springvale Road to Ringwood Street. Twin tunnels, approximately 1.5 km-long, will be built under a design, construction, operation and maintenance contract. The portals at the Mitcham end will be located approximately 350 m east of Park Road and approximately 350 m west of Deep Creek Road at the Ringwood end. The alignment passes beneath houses in the Lisbeth Avenue, under bushland and the Mullum Mullum Creek and under houses and bushland in the Craig Road and Claim Court area. Each tube will include three lanes in each direction with an additional fourth auxiliary safety lane over part of its length as part of the interchange with the Ringwood Bypass.The three shortlisted candidates for the tunnel contract, budgeted at A$326 million, are Baulderstone Hornibrook and Bilfinger Berger; Leighton Contractors and Eroc; and the Eastern Freeway Tunnel Consortium including McConnell Dowell Constructors and Clough Engineering. The submitted bids exceeded A$400 million. Each candidate participated in an extended and confidential process to identify possible cost savings. However, the Victorian government could combine the Eastern Freeway extension and Scoresby Freeway into a single A$1.8 billion project and call for new tenders in a bid to cut costs. The project will be delayed by two years for opening in 2007. Funding by the state government under the Better Roads Victoria Programme. Visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au. E-mail Eastern_Fwy_Project@roads.vic.gov.au 40/02.Invitation for Expressions of Interest, deadline 11th June, 2003 for the design, construction, finance, lease, maintenance and operation of the A$1.8 billion Mitcham-Frankston Freeway. The project includes 40 km of road connecting Melbourne's eastern and south eastern suburbs. It will comprise twin 1.5 km tunnels to protect the Mullum Mullum Creek and the high quality Chaim Court and Hillcrest bushlands. E-mail mff.eoi@doi.vic.gov.au. Visit www.tenders.vic.gov.au/domino/web_notes/etenders/etdrpublishing.nsf?Open and click here 19/03.A joint venture between Thiess and John Holland was selected by the Victorian government, as part of the ConnectEast consortium, to design and construct the Mitcham-Frankston motorway. The contact amounts to AUD2.5 billion. The project will involve the construction of a 39 km roadway of predominantly three-lane capacity, 17 interchanges, over 78 bridges and a 2 x 1.5 km twin lane tunnel under Mullum Mullum Creek. The contractors will also construct the 6 km Ringwood and Dandenong southern bypasses. Completion is planned by the end of 2008. Project financier is Macquarie Bank. Designers are Hyder, Connell Wagner and Parsons Brinckerhoff. Visit www.thiess.com.au and www.johnholland.com.au 43/04.

  $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.

Green light given by the New South Wales government for 2 km of twin, two-lane road tunnel to run east-west connecting William street at the Kings Cross Tunnel and passing beneath Park, Druitt and Bathurst streets to reach the Western Distributor at Darling Harbour. Expected to be completed by 2004, at a cost of $200 million. Over 240 conditions have been imposed regarding public transport improvements and environmental monitoring during construction. Visit www.rta.nsw.gov.au 44/01. The three shortlisted jvs for the building of the Cross City twin tunnel are: Cross City Motorway Consortium (Baulderstone-Hornibrook Pty Ltd/Bilfinger+Berger/Deutsche Bank); E-Tube (Leighton Motorway Investment Pty Ltd); and Sydney City Tunnel Consortium (Transfield Pty Ltd/Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd). Winning bid to be announced beginning of 2002. Opening in 2004. Cost of $400 million. Visit www.rta.nsw.gov.au 51/01.The A$640 million BOOT (Build, Own, Operate & Transfer) contract is awarded to the Cross City Motorway consortium (CCM) led by the joint sponsors Deutsche Bank, Baulderstone Hornibrook and its parent Bilfinger+Berger, representing the entry into the Australian market of a new force in infrastructure. Other consortium members who will be taking equity in the tunnel are Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings (CKI) and DB Capital Partners. Visit www.rta.nsw.gov.au 11/02.

Suitably qualified contractors are invited by TransGrid to register interest by 23rd January, 2001 in constructing 3.2 km x 3.4 m-diameter 330 kV cable tunnel between Sydney Park and Haymarket, to be TBM driven from each end, and 600 m x 3.4 m-diameter roadheader tunnel to be driven from Haymarket, including all shafts and adits. Shale/sandstone will require rockbolt support and shotcrete lining. D & C contract will be awarded June, 2001 for construction start September, 2001 and handover March, 2003. More from cwsyd@conwag.com or visit www.transgrid.com.au 02/01.

  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.

SMEC has carried out geotechnical and design studies for an examination of eleven alternative routes for linking Cairns to the Western Tablelands, ten of which include tunnel options. Cost estimates and preliminary design are underway. Visit www.smec.com.au March 2000.

South East Transport Section 2, Buranda Tunnel, Brisbane varies in width from 14 m to 19 m and is 200 m long, being driven in hard to medium rock in generally poor ground. Engineers are SMEC in Sydney and the Contractors are Thiess. ROM F5 lattice girders are manufactured under license by BHP in Brisbane. Visit www.rom-tech.com for contact. March 2000.

  Joint venture contractors Peabody and Leighton excavating 400 m-long x 12 m-wide x 7 m-high bus tunnel at Vulture Street using 120 t Paurat T3.20 roadheader. Work commenced in September, 1999 from the Southbank portal and in November, 1999 from the Stanley Street portal, with breakthrough anticipated first quarter 2000. Excavation in stages using canopy tubes, face nails, Ingersoll Rand Split Set rockbolts, and shotcrete. More from adelaide@sdscorp.com.au January 2000.  Inner northern busway section 1 project team comprising Queensland Transport, Halcrow, Transfield Contractors, Henry Walker Eltin Contractors and GHD Consultants will undertake 650 m-long, two-lane underground busway in the heart of the city to link existing bus station to proposed bus station. Tunnel traverses an old riverbed through a range of materials from soft alluvium to rock using cut-and-cover and drill/blast. Construction commences this month for completion November, 2001. Visit www.halcrow.com July 2000.1.5 km-long busway with cut-and-cover tunnel under Cleveland Rail Line and 480 m-long driven tunnel beneath heritage-listed Boggo Road Gaol underway for completion by June, 2009 by Thiess in Brisbane using Voest Alpine AM105 roadheaders. Visit www.thiess.com.au. 04/09.