The Northern Area of the project includes the northern tunnel portal works. Construction is taking place in the existing rail corridor at Normanby between the new underground Roma Street station and the upgraded Exhibition station.
The northern tunnel portal will be where trains will enter and exit the northern end of the Cross River Rail twin tunnels. When complete, the portal will be approximately 400 metres long, including 250 metres of open trough leading into the portal mouth and another 150 metres of covered trough leading into the tunnel.
In January 2021, site establishment works commenced including installation of Cross River Rail site offices and facilities, installation of fences around the portal site, and construction of temporary retention structures to allow the start of excavation.
Excavation and construction of the tunnel portal structure began immediately after these works were completed with the installation of all permanent piles completed by late August and commencement of roof installation works in September.
Construction is expected to continue until late 2022.
Fast facts
- 130 temporary retention piles have been installed along the existing rail lines
- 299 permanent piles have been installed for the portal
- approximately 3,000 cubic metres of concrete have been poured for installation of these piles
- 240 precast deck units will be placed on the capping beam prior to the full excavation of the portal
- excavation of the TBM extraction box will generate a total 3,000 cubic metres of spoil
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