Tunnelling on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) is another step closer, with tunnel boring machine (TBM) Aayushi arriving at Clarinda.
The TBM was named by students at Le Page Primary School after medical student and researcher Aayushi Khillan, and is one of the giant machines that will tunnel from Clarinda towards Glen Waverley later this year.
The TBM was transported in parts from the Port of Hastings to site, where crews have finished excavating the 19.5-metre-deep launch site.
Specialised cranes will lower the TBM parts into the launch site, where crews will piece the machine together underground ahead of its launch.
An acoustic shed is being built over the launch site to reduce the impact of noise, dust and light when tunnelling is underway.
Crews have worked around the clock to prepare the site, carrying out extensive earthworks, ground improvement and excavation.
The SRL is Melbourne’s first orbital rail line and will make it faster and easier to move across the city and state. SRL East from Cheltenham to Box Hill will be open in 2035.
