We are currently building Victoria’s longest road tunnels. When complete, the North East Link tunnels will take 15,000 trucks off local roads every day and reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes.

Tunnelling works are currently ongoing following the launch of our tunnel boring machines (TBMs) in mid-2024. The TBMs arrived in pieces from overseas and were assembled to create TBMs ‘Zelda’ and ‘Gillian’.

TBMs are large machines used to excavate dirt and rock. The cutting head on the front of the TBM rotates and hydraulic cylinders push it forward from behind. Cutter discs on the cutting head break through the dirt and rock.

Conveyor belts and pipes inside the TBM take the dirt and rock from the cutter head to the end of the machine and then to the surface to the acoustic shed at Winsor Reserve.

As the tunnels are being dug, we’ll place nearly 43,000 curved concrete segments to form the tunnel walls.

The TBMs are among the biggest in the southern hemisphere with each measuring 90 metres long, 15.6 metres in diameter, and weighing 4,000 tonnes. Come down to our Watsonia Hub to see our replica and learn more about how it works.

The TBMs operate 24/7 with crews of up to 20 people each – Including TBM operators, electricians, mechanics, ring builders and engineers.

While most of our work to build the North East Link tunnels will happen deep underground, major works are still needed at the surface to manage the tunnelling. To keep up to date with disruptions occurring please visit the Big Build disruptions map.