Victorian Government and the Rail Infrastructure Alliance (RIA) signed the AUD 1 billion (USD 720 million) contract to build two entrances at each end of the Metro Tunnel in Kensington and South Yarra.
RIA has started preparatory works, including geotechnical, service and site investigations, at Kensington, South Yarra and West Footscray, ahead of construction of the western and eastern tunnel entrances that will connect with new stations at North Melbourne (near Arden Street), Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac.
The construction is expected to commence in late 2018 and be completed in 2025.
Turnbacks will be built at West Footscray and Hawksburn stations, allowing services to start and end at these stations during timetabled peak periods for the first time, instead of travelling further down the line.
Public spaces near the eastern tunnel entrance, including South Yarra Siding Reserve, will also be rejuvenated as part of these works before being returned to the local community once tunnel entrance works are complete.
Thousands of passengers on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will pass through the entrances each hour, before heading underground into twin 9-km tunnels onboard High Capacity Metro Trains.
This package of works will also deliver a turnback and new platform at West Footscray Station, as well as track enhancements near Hawksburn Station. This is the second package of Metro Tunnel works to be delivered by CPB Contractors, following the award of a AUD 1 billion design and construct contract as part of the Rail Systems Alliance (RSA) in December 2017.
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