A joint venture between Ferrovial and Acciona has secured the first tunnelling contract for Australia’s Sydney Metro West project.
Construction of the tunnel – which is worth almost AU$2bn (around £1.07bn) – will begin by the end of July, with the first of the tunnel-boring machines expected to be in use by the end of 2022.
The Central Tunnelling Package involves the construction of 11km of twin tunnels for the 24km Sydney Metro West line, which will connect Greater Parramatta with Sydney’s central business district.
The contract won by Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture (AFJV) involves constructing the tunnels to connect the Bays Station with Sydney Olympic Park Station.
There will also be excavation and civil works for five new stations and the associated services.
The tunnel is due for completion in 2025.
The joint venture is set to create 1,000 jobs and 500 trainee positions.
AFJV was awarded the first of the project’s three major tunnelling contracts after a competitive tender process involving three shortlisted companies.
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.
The successful tenderer will build 9km of twin tunnels between Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park.
The winners of the contract is expected to be announced by the end of the year.
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.
Image: 1 1/Unsplash
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