Assembly is underway on the first of the two TBMs that will build the West Gate Tunnel, the Victoria’s alternative to the West Gate Bridge. It will take around 75,000 working hours to assemble the TBM – Bella – with up to 30 people per shift working around the clock.  The 15.6 m diameter cutter head will be moved into place by a 500 ton gantry crane.

To reduce disruption to local business traffic as works ramp up, a footbridge for workers is now in place over Somerville Road between the project’s two major Whitehall Road construction sites. The 11-t, 8 m-high footbridge is made from Australian structural steel and was fabricated by Melbourne company, Calbah.

With major tunnelling works set to start this year, legislation will also be introduced into parliament this week that will provide the framework for the management of the road when it opens in 2022.

Click here and au/35 for the tunnelbuilder archive. Visit http://westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au and https://www.premier.vic.gov.au. 10/19.

Links:

http://westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au/about/latest-updates/massive-tunnel-boring-machine-taking-shape

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/massive-tunnel-boring-machine-taking-shape/