Since starting her underground journey in late-2017, TBM Sandy has successfully tunnelled more than 4.5km, cleared the airport estate and installed more than 2750 rings to form Tunnel Two. Click here to see the machine's 7m-diameter cutter head crunching through the station's concrete wall.
Meanwhile at Bayswater Junction, where the TBMs will finish tunnelling, works on the 400m-long dive structure base slab are now complete. The required concrete pours took seven months to complete and used approximately 5400 cubic metres of concrete.
Above ground structures are also taking shape across the project. Earlier this month, Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti visited Airport Central Station and inspected the developing Skybridge. You can read more about the event and the Skybridge updates here.
Station platform under construction at Airport Central
The station’s 12.5m-wide and 150m-long central platform is now being constructed. First, concrete was cast to form the walls on both sides of the platform. With the walls of the platform now in place, backfilling and compaction can occur.
At both the east and western ends of the station, above ground structures called ventilation structures are being built. Each ventilation structure is located above the tunnels and is approximately 40m from the station. At the eastern end of the station, steel work has commenced to form the walls of the first ventilation structure. When complete, the ventilation will improve general passenger comfort, as well as provide a life safety function by removing smoke during an emergency.
Want to know more about the works underway at Airport Central Station? Tour the site with the construction crew here.
TBM Sandy has arrived at Redcliffe
TBM Sandy has broken through into Redcliffe Station, emerging from her most recently constructed 2.6km stretch of tunnel. Maintenance works began shortly after her arrival and will include testing of mechanical and electrical equipment, replacing worn cutterhead tools and the installing of a brand-new screw conveyor.
To celebrate the arrival of TBM Sandy we will be hosting a Redcliffe Station Community Information Day on Sunday July 28. The event will incorporate both an open drop-in information session at the Redcliffe Primary School and a series of bus tours. Unfortunately all of the bus tours are fully booked, however everyone is welcome to attend the drop-in information session between 9am and 3.30pm. During this time you will be able to wander through the project displays at your own pace and staff will be on hand to answer your project-related questions.
Meanwhile, works at Redcliffe site continue around the TBM activities. At the western end of the station the waterproofing process has commenced for the ground slab, and within the station box construction of the emergency staircases are underway.
Forrestfield Station taking shape
Construction of the area where passengers will enter Forrestfield Station is making significant progress, with installation of structural steel for the lower roof almost complete. Additionally, brickwork and installation of door frames is currently in progress.
The recent removal of the formwork for the suspended concrete slab has allowed the station's two 16 tonne escalators to be installed. The escalators extend from concourse to the station platform level.
Looking ahead, brickwork from ground to mezzanine levels for the portal building will soon commence. The portal building’s structural framework will be completed over the coming months, allowing for works on the building's mechanical, electrical and plumbing fit-out to commence in September.
Bayswater Junction concrete pours complete
A major milestone was achieved this month with the dive structure's base slab now complete. The last three sections of the base slab (out of 18 in total) were poured last month. Now that this significant piece of work has been completed, preparations will be made for the arrival of the TBMs in the first half of next year.
Significant progress has also been made on the construction of the noise wall along Whatley Crescent. Over the last month a mechanical rig has been onsite installing the steel posts required to frame and support the wall panels, and by the end of July the 200mm-thick precast wall panels should be installed ready for anti-graffiti coating.
Other works at the Bayswater site include the ongoing construction of the retaining walls along the Whatley Crescent alignment. Reinforced concrete is being laid for the southern retaining wall, with these works expected to be completed by the end of July. Click here to view the alignment of the noise and retaining walls.
Cross Passage RAC waterproofing works finalised
Waterproofing of the project’s second tunnel-to-tunnel cross passage, Cross Passage RAC, is now complete. After the waterproofing membrane was installed, steel reinforcement was placed ready for the next layer of concrete to be sprayed on using a remote controlled robotic concrete machine.
Over the coming weeks, once works at Cross Passage RAC are complete, the construction team will move to Cross Passage Car Park C to begin the excavation process.
Meanwhile, set-up works for ground freezing for the three cross passages located underneath Perth Airport's airside environment has now commenced. Read more about cross passages here.