Children from a Keilor East early learning centre recently had the exciting opportunity to see “Taylor” the mini tunnel boring machine (TBM) up close before she got to work on the Melbourne Airport Rail Project.
The youngsters from Milleara Integrated Learning and Development Centre in Keilor East, and Jigsaw Childcare in Sunshine North took part in a competition to name one of 2 mini TBMs being used to create space for utility services under the rail corridor and surrounding roads.
“Taylor” – who is 2m long and 0.5m in diameter – is hard at work, where she will dig for nearly 50m, around 6m below ground. She’s expected to cover up to 12m per day.
Work at Keilor East and Sunshine North includes the construction of dedicated tracks for Melbourne Airport Rail services in the existing freight corridor between Sunshine and Airport West.
Early work to prepare for the new tracks involves relocating and protecting hundreds of utilities – such as water, gas, electricity, sewerage and telecommunications – that are located in the rail corridor and adjacent roads. This is where Taylor will play a key role, digging under the rail corridor for the relocation of critical utility services.
The new station at Keilor East will connect more than 150,000 passengers in the City of Moonee Valley area to Victoria’s expanding rail network for the first time.
