The 2.3 km Melbourne Main Sewer Replacement from Port Melbourne to Docklands, Victoria, has reached its half way point.

The laying of the 160m of pipe across the Yarra – upstream of the Charles Grimes Bridge – is a major component of the whole project and reaching halfway is a major milestone for the Melbourne Main Sewer Replacement (MMSR) project.

Project Director Phil Corluka said, “The $A220 million Melbourne Main
Sewer Replacement is a critical piece of infrastructure that will meet the demands of Melbourne’s growing population for the next century.”

Meanwhile, the first tunnel drive on the project from Fennell Reserve, Port Melbourne to Swallow Street is approximately 70 per cent complete.
Lucy, the tunnel boring machine, will then be re-lowered at Fennell Reserve and tunnel north towards the Yarra River.

The project presents a range of technical challenges, including crossing the Yarra River, tunnelling through variable geology and temporarily by-pass pumping the city’s main sewer at two locations.

John Holland Group is constructing the project on behalf of Melbourne Water. Other project team members include designers GHD, and Project Manager, Aurecon.

John Holland Tunnelling MMSR Project Manager Nick Lewis, an experienced tunneller, speaks with enthusiasm about the project. Mr Lewis describes the machinery as “an underground factory – 110m long, specially designed to cope with specific ground conditions.”

The MMSR is expected to be completed in 2012 and the Yarra River crossing to be completed by mid 2011.

Further Information:
www.trenchlessaustralasia.com