The Sydney Metro West project has received two major planning approvals in readiness for the tunnel boring machines to start working by the end of 2022.
The planning approvals for the project are being done in stages because of the project size.
Firstly, the Sydney Metro West Project Concept has received planning approval from Westmead to Sydney’s central business district and for the station excavation and tunnelling between Westmead and The Bays.
Secondly, Sydney Metro has received planning approval for two planned precast facilities at Eastern Creek, which are to contribute to the construction of Sydney Metro West. The two facilities will manufacture 148,000 precast concrete segments for the 24km twin tunnels between Westmead and Sydney CBD. Once built, it is estimated that it will take passengers 20 minutes to travel from Parramatta to Sydney CBD.
Thanks to this metro project, some Sydney suburbs are getting their first-ever rail connections. Stations have been confirmed at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Sydney CBD.
Future planning stages are required for major civil construction works such as station excavation and tunnelling between The Bays and Sydney CBD, for tunnel fitout, station building and operation of the line between Westmead and the central business district.
Construction on the Sydney Metro West project started in late 2020. The first tunnelling contracts are likely to be issued in mid-2021.
