A large-scale engineering operation in the heart of Sydney will help to keep pedestrians flowing while the new metro station at Martin Place is built.
A block of Martin Place was excavated around 10 metres from street level and two level pre-fabricated steel pedestrian bridge have been lifted into place in the middle of the night.
The bridge allows commuters to access Martin Place at both the surface and subway levels while the southern entrance of the station is being excavated.
This means a section of Martin Place between Elizabeth and Castlereagh streets can remain open.
Most of the section of Martin Place between Castlereagh and Elizabeth streets was excavated to prepare for the installation of the bridge, including a one metres thick concrete slab.
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Two cranes lowered a double storey 45 metre walkway into place in three 15 metre pieces on the last weekend of 2018. One section was lifted into position from Elizabeth Street and the remaining sections were installed from Castlereagh Street.
Pre-existing sub surface infrastructure, including old brick tunnels, pedestrian underpasses and utilities were not affected by the works.
The temporary bridge will be in place until overstation development is underway in 2022.
Roadheader tunnelling machines are excavating the underground station and have removed more than 110,000 tonnes of rock so far.