Trains have resumed on the Hurstbridge Line following a 3 week around-the-clock construction blitz, as crews take another key step towards connecting the M80 Ring Road to the North East Link tunnels.
Crews lifted beams into place to construct the new Grimshaw Street bridge, foundations, earthworks, precast panel installations and construction of retaining walls, which are key steps towards extending the existing rail tunnel under Greensborough Highway, as part of work to connect the North East Link tunnels to the M80 Ring Road.
During the 24/7 works, crews worked around the clock to build a new road bridge over the rail line at Grimshaw Street. 26 concrete beams were lifted and installed to form the south section of this new bridge deck. It will form part of the new Grimshaw Street interchange that will make it easy to access Greensborough Highway, North East Link and the M80 Ring Road.
Workers also installed 72 pre-cast concrete panels to form a section of the western walls of the extended rail tunnel under Greensborough Highway.
When it is eventually extended to nearly half a kilometre long, the rail tunnel will accommodate for the completed M80 Ring Road to be built over the Hurstbridge Line between Grimshaw and Elder streets in Watsonia. The new extended rail tunnel will be the third longest on Melbourne’s train network, behind the new Metro Tunnel and the City Loop.
There is more to be done and crews will continue a range of rail upgrades next year, with works to extend the rail tunnel and rebuild the Grimshaw Street bridge continuing until 2026.
For more information about rail works underway for the project, you can read our fact sheet Upgrading the Hurstbridge Line.