Tunnelling for Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East is another step closer as excavation begins at the tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch site in Clarinda, where TBMs will launch later this year.
SRL East will deliver 26km of twin tunnels and 6 brand new underground stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill.
TBMs will launch from Clarinda to dig the tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley, and from Burwood to dig the tunnels between Glen Waverley and Box Hill. Construction of the TBM launch site at Burwood is already complete, ready for tunnelling to start this year.
Excavation has started at the eastern side of the Clarinda launch site, which will l reach a final depth of about 19.5m. Excavation of the western side will start soon, with crews finalising ground preparation works.
Between February and March, nearly 1000 cubic metres of concrete was poured at Clarinda, with crews using a concrete mix designed to reduce carbon emissions.
Construction of SRL East from Cheltenham to Box Hill is powering ahead, with major construction underway, 3000 people already working on the project and trains taking passengers in 2035.
SRL East will connect major economic and activity centres including Monash, Clayton and Box Hill, deliver direct train lines to Monash and Deakin universities for the first time, and help deliver thousands more homes within walking distance of the new stations.