Tunnel Boring Machines

Q Tunnel Boring Machines - Fast Facts

$45 million each
12.48 metres in diameter (largest to ever operate in Australia)
195 metres long
3,600 tonnes
12 months to manufacture
3 months to assemble
22 people to operate each machine at all times

Q What is a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)?

A The TBMs are ‘Earth Pressure Balance’ machines specially designed for Airport Link tunnelling conditions. The TBMs are highly versatile and extremely safe to use when excavating softer ground but also have the ability to cut through rock that is 6-8 times harder than concrete.

Q What kind of ground conditions do TBM encounter?

A The TBMs have encountered mixed ground conditions of rock, sand and gravel during their tunnelling from Kalinga Park in Clayfield. These mixed conditions dictated the need for this type of sophisticated machine.

Q How were the TBMs assembled?

Each TBM took approximately three months to assemble on site and inside the custom-built TBM launch box at Kalinga Park. The launch box measures 105m long x 35m wide x 22m deep and the 250 separate TBM components were lowered into the box by two 160 tonne cranes and three 40 tonne cranes.

The 12.48 metre cutterheads fixed to the front of each TBM, are the largest to ever operate in Australia. Weighing 220 tonnes each, the cutterheads feature 73, 17-inch cutter wheels made of hardened steel.

Q What part of the corridor was dug by the TBMs?

A The TBMs commenced their 12 month journey from Kalinga Park and travelled west towards Lutwyche, excavating a 2.5km section of the twin 5.1km mainline tunnels for Airport Link. The first machine ‘Rocksy” carved out the eastbound mainline tunnel, while the second machine ‘Sandy’ excavated the westbound tunnel. The TBMs finish their journey to Lutwyche in July 2011.

Q How many people does it take to operate a TBM?

A Each TBM required a team of 22 operators at all times, 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Q How quickly did the TBMs progress?

A The TBMs excavated at rates of up to approximately 110 metres per week.

Q When did the TBMs start and finish tunnelling?

The first machine ‘Rocksy’ began tunnelling on 21 July 2010 and finished carving out the eastbound mainline tunnel on 4 July 2011.

The second machine ‘Sandy’ started excavating the westbound tunnel on August 19 and finished its journey to Lutwyche on the 6 July 2011.

Tunnel Boring Machines

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