The two roadheaders are currently tunnelling in two different directions at the project’s Woolloongabba worksite from a 20 m deep station cavern.
The machines are tunnelling approximately 1.5 m/day while additional works including the erection of a large spoil shed is being completed in the surrounding site.
Two Herrenknecht TBMs will be launched from the Woolloongabba site from January next year, with the machines expected to arrive to the site before the end of 2020.
The TBMs will be 150 m long, weigh 1,350 t and will excavate approximately 20-30 m each day.
The Cross River Rail will connect the northern and southern rail networks in Brisbane’s CBD with a 10.2 km line from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills and 5.9 km of the alignment being tunnelled under Brisbane River.
The project will deliver four new underground stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street, as well as upgrades to eight above ground stations at Salisbury, Rocklea, Moorooka, Yeerongpilly, Yeronga, Fairfield, Dutton Park and Exhibition.
Three new stations on the Gold Coast line at Pimpama, Helensvale North and Merrimac will also be constructed.
The project is expected to be operational in 2024.
For more information visit the Cross River Rail website.
If you have project news you would like featured in Trenchless Australasia contact Assistant Editor Sophie Venz at svenz@gs-press.com.au