A John Holland, CPB Contractors (CPB) and Ghella joint venture (JCG JV) has been awarded the eastern tunnelling contract for the Sydney Metro West infrastructure project.
The tender process for the Sydney Metro West tunnel began in April 2020 after the project to create 24 kilometres of metro rail tunnels from Westmead to the Sydney central business district (CBD) was announced in 2017.
This is the third and final major tunnelling award for Sydney Metro West. When it opens in 2030, the project will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, while also connecting new communities to rail services.
Valued at 1.63 billion AUD (1.04bn EUR |1.09bn USD), the contract includes a tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch site at The Bays, 3.5 kilometres of tunnels from The Bays to the Sydney CBD, a turnback cavern to the east of the new Hunter Street Station, and excavation and civil works for two new cavern stations at Pyrmont and Hunter Street.
Two TBMs will be used to tunnel from The Bays towards Hunter Street, with preparations scheduled to begin in 2023.
Early next year, construction of the twin tunnels between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park and between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead will also begin.
In preparation for this work, the project’s first two TBMs arrived at The Bays Station site in October.
These machines include refurbished parts from those used on the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project, scheduled to open in 2024.
