Trenchless works on the Estelle Street sewer relocation are underway as part of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades in Victoria.
The works, being completed by Tunnelling Solutions, got underway in mid-May and will take approximately 12 months to complete.
The Eastern Freeway Upgrades is a major infrastructure project focused on enhancing capacity and connectivity in Melbourne. It will be delivered in three packages, and the relocation forms part of the first stage of the project, which is being delivered by the Eastern Freeway – Burke-to-Tram Alliance, comprising Major Road Projects Victoria, Laing O’Rourke, Symal, Arcadis and WSP.
The first stage of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades, from Burke Road to Tram Road, will deliver:
- six new express lanes for faster, smoother trips
- new Eastern Busway lanes connecting with two park and rides at Bulleen and Doncaster
- 11km of walking and cycling paths
- eight million new trees and plants
- 11km of new and upgraded noise walls
- 43,700m2 of revitalised Valda wetlands.
Key elements of the Burke-to-Tram package also feature a major interchange at Bulleen, improvements to the Doncaster Interchange, and the development of an upgraded Doncaster Park and Ride and Eastern Busway.
The Estelle Street sewer relocation scope of works includes temporary shaft excavation and support construction of a new 980m DN1400 sewer line utilising Tunnelling Solutions’ new microtunnel boring machine (MTBM) fleet, and construction of new manholes and connections via live tie-in works.
Tunnelling Solutions chief executive Serhat Baycan said the company’s track record, coupled with the team’s new fleet of MTBMs, is well-suited to delivering the Estelle Street sewer relocation for this major project.
“Tunnelling Solutions is pleased to be involved in this significant piece of infrastructure, which will have a positive impact on Melbourne’s increasing population,” he said. “We look forward to bringing to the project our unique expertise in delivering complex infrastructure and working alongside the alliance to deliver a safe and successful project.”
The Eastern Freeway Upgrade will form part of three major infrastructure projects in Victoria.
Together with the North East Link tunnels and M80 Ring Road Completion in Greensborough, the upgrades are designed to address the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network, take 15,000 trucks off local roads per day day and reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes.
Subscribe to Trenchless Australasia for the latest project and industry news