Sydney Metro West Tunnelling Reaches 90% Completion

Tunnelling for the Sydney Metro West project has reached 90% completion following the arrival of two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) at the metro station site in Parramatta.

Whilst TBM Dorothy reached the station site last week; TBM Betty has already begun its final stretch of tunnel excavation to Westmead following its departure from Parramatta on 17 July, having travelled 175 metres thus far.

Both TBMs worked 24 hours a day five days per week over the course of 17 months in order to build the seven-kilometre tunnels connecting Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta.

Thus far, 1.25 million tonnes of earth have been excavated and more than 48,000 precast concrete segments have been installed along the tunnel lining, each weighing up to 4 tonnes.

Both TBMs are expected to complete the main line tunnels at the line’s western end by 2026.

Of the nine station boxes for the Sydney Metro West project, six have been excavated and lined including boxes at The Bays, Five Dock, Burwood North, North Strathfield Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead. Work is set to continue at Parramatta, Pyrmont and the Hunter Street station in Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD).

Parramatta metro station will form the basis of a mixed-use development of four separate buildings spanning 24,150 square metres over the space of two city blocks, providing roughly 100 new homes, office and retail spaces, as well as dining and entertainment destinations.

The new hub will be situated close to Eat Street, adjacent to Light Rail services and link directly to the new Civic Link, a 450-metre long pedestrian spine connecting the metro precinct to the Powerhouse Parramatta.