Melbourne North East Link
Two very large TBMs are digging Victoria’s longest road tunnels. The two XXL Herrenknecht EPB Shields, affectionately named Zelda and Gillian by Melbourne citizens, are currently engaged in the excavation of the twin 3-lane road tunnels, the North East Link, which represent the largest investment in the city's northeast to date. The project will result in the construction of the longest road tunnels in Victoria. It is one of the state's Big Build projects, an ambitious state government program that includes a series of major public works designed to help Melbourne face the challenges of being one of Australia's biggest cities. Once completed, the 6.5 kilometer North East Link from Watsonia to Bulleen will address the current gap in the city's road network, potentially reducing the number of trucks on local roads by 15,000 a day, while also contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions and traffic congestion. It is hoped that the tunnels will significantly improve traffic conditions in the northeast of the city. The tunnels are jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian governments and are expected to open to traffic in 2028.
For this ambitious undertaking, two massive tailor-made Herrenknecht TBMs with 15.50-meter-diameter, each weighing 4,000 tons, measuring 90 meters in length, started tunnelling in August 2024 respectively in September 2024.
