A three-week construction blitz on Melbourne’s North East Link project sees multiple concrete beams, large precast concrete panels installed, and concrete poured.
On the Hurstbridge rail corridor, construction crews worked around the clock to build a new wider bridge over the railway line at Grimshaw Street and to extend the rail tunnel under the Greensborough Highway.
Twenty-six concrete beams were lifted and installed by a 450-tonne crane on the southern side of Grimshaw Street to form the new bridge.
And to form the western wall in the extended tunnel, workers have installed 72 massive precast concrete panels and poured concrete.
Along the M80 Ring Road, which is being joined to the North East Link in Greensborough, panels and posts for the first new noise wall will arrive soon to be built to minimise construction noise impacts. Earthworks are continuing as the construction team prepares to build the new M80 Ring Road interchange and new lanes between Plenty Road and Greensborough Bypass.
In Watsonia, concrete segments will start arriving soon that will support the Watsonia Road landscaped bridge.
The North East Link tunnels continue to take shape with the Zelda TBM more than 350 metres through its journey from Watsonia to Bulleen, followed closely behind by TBM Gillian. Significant headway has been made on the entry and exit ramps for the Lower Plenty Road Interchange to prepare for the arrival of TBMs next year, according to the project team.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia and at the helm of our magazine for 8 years. She was behind the Institute's weekly news bulletins from 2016-2021 and is now writing our focused news items. Desi has been an engineering news and features journalist/editor across all disciplines since 2013 - part of a 30-year career writing for a wide range of industries.