The Victorian Government has shortlisted three construction consortium’s for a $6 billion contract to build a new Metro Tunnel and five new underground stations in Melbourne.
The three shortlisted consortium’s are:
- Continuum Victoria – comprising ACCIONA Infrastructure, Ferrovial Agroman, Honeywell, Downer EDI and Plenary Origination
- Cross Yarra Partnership – comprising Lendlease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital
- Moving Melbourne Together – comprising Pacific Partnerships, CPB Contractors, Ghella, Salini Impregilo, Serco and Macquarie Capital
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said, “The best construction companies in the world are lining up to build the biggest public transport project in Australia – the Metro Tunnel.”
The contract is part of the Victorian Government’s $6 billion Public Private Partnership (PPP) to build the biggest public transport project in the state’s history.
“The Metro Tunnel will create 4,700 jobs and space in the City Loop to run more services in and out of the city every day,” Victorian Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said.
The PPP will build and fit-out the nine kilometre Metro Tunnel and the five new underground stations at Arden, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South and Domain.
New details about the construction of the tunnels has also been revealed, with up to six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) set to be used during construction, each up to 100 metres long and weighing more than 1,000 tonnes.
In preparation for this significant work, three giant shafts will be excavated in the CBD – at Franklin Street and A’Beckett Street near Melbourne Central station, and at City Square near Flinders Street Station.
The shafts will be up to 11 storeys deep and will enable the roadheaders to be lowered into the ground to begin excavating around two million cubic metres of soil and rock – enough to fill 800 olympic-sized swimming pools.
“Melbourne needs the Metro Tunnel and we’re not wasting a moment – major work starts in 2017,” Mr Andrews said.
“The Metro Tunnel will let us run trains so often that you don’t need a timetable – you just turn up and go.”
Ms Allan said the “announcement of the shortlist paves the way for contract award next year and construction of the Metro Tunnel and five new stations to start in 2018.”
