The Sydney Metro West project has new contractors on board to deliver the final, eastern tunnelling stage of the project, with the $1.63 billion contract awarded to a joint venture.
John Holland, CPB Contractors (CPB) and Ghella joint venture (JCG JV) have been awarded the Eastern Tunnelling contract to deliver 3.5km of metro rail tunnels between The Bays and Sydney CBD.
The Eastern Tunnelling contract includes:
- 3.5km tunnels from The Bays to the Sydney CBD
- A tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch site at The Bays with two TBMs launched towards Hunter Street
- A turnback cavern to the east of the new Hunter Street Station, allowing trains to turn around before travelling back towards Parramatta
- Excavation and civil works for two new cavern stations at Pyrmont and Hunter Street in Sydney CBD
- More than 8,000 segments to line the tunnels
Preparations for tunnelling on this final section of the line will start in 2023.
This is the third and final major tunnelling package awarded on this city-shaping project, with work already underway to deliver twin tunnels between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park by Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture and between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead by Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke Consortium.
Sydney Metro West will create more than 10,000 direct new jobs and 70,000 indirect jobs. To build these tunnels a broad range of skills will be required including tunnellers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, concrete workers, truck drivers, labourers and security guards.
When passenger services start in 2030, fast and reliable metro services will take commuters from Parramatta to the Sydney CBD in around 20 minutes.
New South Wales Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney, David Elliott, said, “We’re getting on with the job of delivering Australia’s biggest public transport project.
“2023 is gearing up to be the year of tunnelling for Sydney Metro West with two tunnel boring machines already here, ready to start work early next year, and two more will be on their way soon.
“This is the final piece in the tunnelling puzzle to build the 24km metro rail tunnels from Westmead to the Sydney CBD.”
