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Melbourne's Metro Tunnel: Engineering Feats Under Pressure
27 Nov
Summary
- Complex construction required unique solutions for universities and hospitals.
- Deep tunneling and narrow shafts minimized disruption to Melbourne's CBD.
- Challenging geology, including siltstone and basalt, tested engineering limits.
Constructing Melbourne's Metro Tunnel involved overcoming significant engineering hurdles beneath the city's core. In areas like Parkville, the project implemented specialized techniques to minimize impacts on major institutions such as universities and hospitals, addressing concerns from noise pollution to electromagnetic interference affecting sensitive medical equipment.
The chosen strategy involved deep tunneling accessed by narrow shafts and acoustic sheds. This approach proved far less disruptive than earlier proposals to excavate large open-cut stations along Swanston Street. This allowed essential city services, including trams, to continue operating with minimal interruption throughout the construction period.
Melbourne's challenging geological conditions, includingFAULTY mudstone, siltstone, and basalt rock, presented substantial risks. The project successfully navigated these by employing advanced techniques like earth pressure-balancing systems, ensuring the safe completion of the tunnel and its complex, architecturally significant stations designed for future capacity.
