CBD roads close for years as construction of the Melbourne's Metro Tunnel Project begins this week and continues well into the next decade.
Work has started in Melbourne's Northern CBD in preparation for major construction on the new Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project. To facilitate the works, sections of Franklin and A'Beckett streets were closed this week as early works began at the site of the new CBD North Station.
Stewart Street has reopened for one-way northbound traffic from A'Beckett Street. The works include tree removal, relocating and protecting utilities such as gas, power and telecommunications services.
There has been strong demand for public transport infrastructure to cater for the rapidly expanding urban population. The current infrastructure struggles to cope with the volume of commuters travelling around metro Victoria. The Metro Tunnel will free up space in the City Loop to run more trains in and out of the city by giving the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines their own tunnel through the CBD. The Melbourne Metro is worth $11 billion and consists of five underground railway stations and two new tunnels.
Melbourne Metro Project Map. Image Source: Melbourne Metro Rail Authority.
Evolution Rail, a consortium between Downer EDI, Changchun Railway Vehicles and Plenary (with the help of iSeekplant) was named the successful tender to deliver the High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) back in September 2016. Evolution Rail guarantees 60% of local resources will be used during the construction period. This project will create 1,100 local jobs.
The construction phase spanning from 2018 to 2026 consists of:
- Construction of twin tunnels and tunnel entrances.
- Construction of underground stations and station entrances.
- Installation and commission of signalling systems.
- Delivery of wider network enhancements.
- Delivery of urban design treatments.
- Reinstatement of streetscape and open space.
- Testing and commissioning of new infrastructure and systems, including train driver training.
