Sydney Metro Awards $A 1.6bn Sydney Metro West tunnelling contract

SYDNEY METRO has awarded a $A 1.63 billion ($US 1.1 billion) contract to a joint venture of John Holland, CPB Contractors (CPB), and Ghella for the final stage of tunnelling on the Sydney Metro West project.

Sydney Metro West is a new 24km metro line in Sydney’s city centre, including stops at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont, and Hunter Street.

The Eastern Tunnelling contract is the third and final major tunnelling package, and it comprises construction of 3.5 kilometres of metro rail tunnels between The Bays and Hunter Street.

The contract also includes a turnback cavern to the east of the new Hunter Street Station, which will allow trains to turn around and return to Parramatta.

The final part of the route will be tunnelled beginning next year.

The twin tunnels connecting The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park, as well as between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead, are already under development.

Tunnel boring machines are scheduled to begin operations in early 2023.

The entire Sydney Metro West line is scheduled to be finished in 2030.

Last month, NSW Transport unveiled a new contracting arrangement for the Sydney Metro West project.