Stage 1 of 4
Construction
Construction of the first stage of the Metro will involve:
- 7 kilometres of (twin) bored tunnels each measuring approximately 5.7 metres in diameter
- six new underground metro stations and associated facilities such as bus interchanges, taxi ranks, bicycle racks, and kiss ‘n’ ride drop off points
- provision for a future station at White Bay
- a train stabling and maintenance facility, and an operations control centre at the site of the Rozelle Rail Yards
- installation of the track and railway systems.
Methods
The Metro will be excavated primarily by two ‘earth pressure balance’ tunnel boring machines (TBMs).
The TBMs will be launched from White Bay and will head towards Central, passing beneath the harbour floor.
Roadheaders will be used to excavate the station caverns and a small section of the tunnels (between White Bay and Rozelle).
Managing impacts
The Stage 1 Environmental Assessment identifies and assesses the potential impacts of construction. These impacts relate to spoil management, traffic, noise, vibration and heritage.
The Environmental Assessment also identifies strategies that would be put in place to avoid and minimise construction impacts. A Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) would be prepared and submitted to the Department of Planning before construction works begin.
