Tunnel works have commenced for the North East Link Project which is expected to get thousands of trucks off local Melbourne roads.
Two tunnel boring machines (TBM) are being used in the project, with the first now digging a 6.5-kilometre tunnel between suburbs Watsonia and Bulleen which will reportedly reduce travel times by 35 minutes and remove 15,000 trucks from local roads.
The TBM is the first of two massive machines that will dig up to 15 metres per day and up to 45 metres underground.
The 4,000-tonne machines will also install tunnel walls made of approximately 44,000 individual concrete segments made locally in Benalla.
“Victoria’s missing link has been talked about for decades,” said Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Danny Pearson.
“We’re getting on with building it to make sure our freeways are keeping up with our growing state.”
More than 100 tunnel workers have undergone specialised underground training at the Victorian Tunnelling Centre to work below ground, with the tunnels to be built using 100-per cent renewable electricity.
The project has employed more than 6,700 people and will create 12,000 jobs before its completion in 2028.
The Australian Government has made a total contribution of $5 billion to the project following an additional pledge of $3.25 billion at the 2024-25 Budget, with the Victorian Government providing the rest of the project’s funding.
“This shows the Commonwealth is once again partnering with Victorian infrastructure, in job creation and in building the economy, as we deliver this important project for our local community,” said Federal Member for Jagajaga, Kate Thwaites.
The final assembly of the two machines was announced earlier this year, when it was revealed that they would be launched in the months to follow.
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