Two Robbins TBMs broke through within two days of each other at the end of July on the US$608M Epping to Chatswood rail project in Sydney.
For contractor Thiess-Hochtief JV (THJV), the event marked completion of 50% of the tunnelling on the project.
The 7.2m diameter TBMs broke through on 27 and 29 July to the Epping site, after being launched from the central M2 shaft (T&TI Feb, p14). Project director, Steve Burns, said: “We have now completed 7.2km of the line. Later this year, we will start work on the final 5.3km between Macquarie Park and Chatswood.”
Each drive was 6.7km long with 51% being in curves with radii ranging from 500m to 873m. Advance rates exceeding 8m/hr have been claimed through the sandstone.
One of the other major tunnelling projects in Sydney, the Cross City project (T&TI Feb, p20), was marred by tragedy in the same period when, on 28 July, a worker was killed by a fall of ground.
New Zealander Ronnie Shores, 42, was said to be an experienced tunneller and had worked on the project for one year and one day when the incident took place. Reports said he was killed by a fall of rock from the tunnel roof at 5.30pm, whilst working 40m below street level in east Sydney.
An investigation into the incident began immediately whilst work on the site was suspended.
Following the accident, unions are threatening strike action that could disrupt four major tunnelling projects in the city unless their demands for increased worker safety are met.
In a report on 22 August, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union stated that strike action was probable unless the provincial government and tunnel contractors agreed to the union’s terms by the end of the week. Demands include an overhaul of the Tunnelling Code of Practice.
The Lane Cove Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, a Parramatta to Epping rail link tunnel and a sewer tunnel at Bondi would all be affected if strike action were taken.
