Victorian government has announced the geotechnical work started at Box Hill for Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop, marking another step towards transforming Victoria’s public transport system.
Site investigations at Box Hill signal the start of a programme of ground works across Melbourne’s southeast that will help understand ground conditions and plan for the new underground alignment and station locations.
The geotechnical investigations involve drilling boreholes of depths between 30-60 metres. The rock and soil are then tested for composition and stability, with each site taking around two weeks to analyse. The geotechnical investigations are a vital part of development and technical work that will determine the stages and timing of the project, and how it will be built.
The Suburban Rail Loop will connect Melbourne’s middle suburbs to priority growth precincts, and link all Victorians to major health, education and employment centres.
The 90-km rail link will connect every major railway line from the Frankston line to the Werribee line via Melbourne Airport, easing demand on existing lines and shifting more Melburnians out of their cars.
When finished, people living in the regions won’t need to travel through the centre of Melbourne to access jobs in growing economic precincts outside the CBD.
“Suburban Rail Loop will change the way we move around Melbourne, slashing travel times and better connecting people with jobs, education and other vital services, wherever they live,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
The construction works are expected to begin in 2022.
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