Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Hiwa-i-te Rangi has reached the 10km mark after leaving a site next to Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant, New Zealand, in August 2021.
Now, the TBM heads to Pt Erin, Herne Bay to build the 16.2km Central Interceptor wastewater tunnel.
The almost 200m long TBM is currently 100m north of the Haverstock Rd Central Interceptor Site, Sandringham and sitting 70m below ground as it builds the 4.5m diameter tunnel.
It travels about 15m per day and lays eight to ten tunnel rings.
Central Interceptor executive program director Shayne Cunis said the latest milestone is significant.
“It’s great news, coming almost two weeks after Hiwa-i-te-Rangi successfully broke through the latest shaft at our Haverstock Rd site, Sandringham etc,” Cunis said.
“Our works programme is progressing safely and smoothly. We’re on track to see section one of the tunnel from May Rd, Mt Roskill south go live by the end of the year.
“I am immensely proud of all the construction teams producing this highly complex, technically challenging engineering project. Their work is world-class.”
Meanwhile, microtunnel boring machine Domenica is tunnelling the final drive to build Link Sewer B, the second of two branch sewers to intersect the main tunnel.
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