State Library Station breakthrough

Three massive machines – each weighing more than 100 tonnes – have met 30 metres underground, in the first tunnel breakthrough on the Metro Tunnel Project. 

The breakthrough occurred under the northern end of Swanston St, near Franklin St, where the new State Library Station is being built. 

The road headers – which are 15 metres long and can smash through rock three times harder than concrete – are operating deep under Swanston St as they mine out the caverns and underground passenger connections for the new state-of-the-art station. 

A fourth road header will soon join them, as they work together to excavate around 500,000 tonnes of rock – the equivalent of almost 70 Olympic swimming pools – with 1500 tonnes of rock and soil removed every 24 hours.

To date, crews have worked around the clock to complete approximately 20 per cent of the overall excavation for the State Library Station caverns.

For more information on State Library Station visit metrotunnel.vic.gov.au

Shed construction at City Square

If you have taken a stroll down the southern end of Swanston St lately you would have noticed a large shed is being built over the City Square site for the Town Hall Station. Construction of an acoustic shed started last month with framework installation and wall panels being lifted into place. 

The acoustic shed will minimise noise and dust impacts on the surrounding community and maximise construction productivity. 

While the shed is being constructed, the deck is also being installed which will give truck access from Collins St to Flinders Lane, as they pass through to remove excavated soil during construction of a shaft for the new Town Hall Station.

The shed and deck are expected to be completed in the coming months. 

For more information on Town Hall Station visit metrotunnel.vic.gov.au