The Suburban Rail Loop Authority is undertaking geotechnical investigations as part of the early planning and design work that will help determine the rail alignment and station locations. These works involve drilling in indicative investigation areas near the proposed alignment for the south east section of Suburban Rail Loop to capture initial data and information about local ground conditions.  

A staggering 7 km of ground has been drilled by Suburban Rail Loop workers, as pre-construction works on the mega project ramp up in Melbourne’s southeast and CPB Contractors, John Holland and Laing O'Rourke - three of the largest construction companies in Australia - are lining up to build this project.  The contract will be awarded by the end of the year with construction starting in Melbourne’s southeast in 2022.    

More than 425 boreholes and geotechnical investigations have been drilled between Cheltenham and Box Hill, where twin 26km underground tunnels will be built during Stage One. Seven drilling rigs are currently in the ground!.    

Hundreds of other land and groundwater surveys have been conducted, with around 10,000 laboratory tests completed. The exploratory work underway to plan the twin tunnel alignment also includes laser and CCTV technology, which is helping workers to remotely inspect the Southeast Trunk Sewer.   

The work is helping shape the six underground stations to be built as part of Stage One - at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill. Further announcements will be made soon, with finishing touches being made on the development of the precise station locations, entrances and design elements.   

Stage One of Suburban Rail Loop will slash public transport travel times and connect our growing health, education, retail and employment precincts in Melbourne’s southeast between Cheltenham and Box Hill.   

Click here and au/39 for tunnelbuilder archive and also visit https://suburbanrailloop.vic.gov.au/. 23/21.