The New South Wales Government has awarded a $1.96 billion contract to begin tunnelling on the Sydney Metro West project.
The contract includes delivering twin 11-kilometre metro railway tunnels from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park, excavation and civil works for five new stations and two double shield tunnel boring machines (TBM).
The contractor will also deliver a crossover cavern at Burwood North and one of the two precast concrete factories at Eastern Creek.
70,000 concrete segments will be used to line the twin tunnels and two access shafts will be built at Burwood North and The Bays.
Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd and Ferrovial Construction (Australia) Pty Ltd Joint Venture won the first of three major tunnelling contracts after a competitive tender process involving three shortlisted companies.
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The remaining two tenderers John Holland, CPB Contractors and Ghella Australia Joint Venture (JHCPBG JV) and Gamuda and Laing O’Rourke Australia Joint Venture (GALC JV) will now bid for the Western Tunnelling Package, with the successful tenderer awarded a contract to build nine kilometres of twin tunnels between Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park. This second major contract is expected to be awarded by the end of this year.
Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said mega TBMs will be in the ground before the end of next year, as planned, under the contract awarded to Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd and Ferrovial Construction (Australia) Pty Ltd Joint Venture.
“These tunnels mean you’ll be able to get from Parramatta to the Sydney CBD in around 20 minutes on a fast, safe and reliable driverless metro train, forever changing how we move around Sydney,” Constance said.
“Today’s historic milestone is a massive step towards delivering Metro West which will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, transforming our city for generations to come.”
Constance said this once in a century infrastructure investment will link new communities to rail services, slash travel times across the network and support employment growth.
“Sydney Metro West will create more than 10,000 direct new jobs and 70,000 indirect jobs, with many of these jobs generated by this major contract.
“To build these tunnels a broad range of skills will be required including tunnellers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, concrete workers, truck drivers, labourers and security guards,” Constance said.
Completion of the tunnelling contract is expected by the end of 2025.
Sydney Metro has also begun the process to appoint its third major tunnelling contractor for the Eastern Tunnelling. This contract for tunnelling between The Bays and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD is expected to be awarded by late 2022.