Metro Tunnel focus on Arden Station as design takes shape

Work on the Metro Tunnel reached several milestones during 2020 and progress is already forging ahead this year.

The tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that first set out from the Arden Station site in late 2019 are now digging the tunnel deep below Melbourne’s city streets.

After creating the tunnel to the western entrance at Kensington, TBMs Meg and Joan completed the 1.4km from Arden to Parkville. 

Joan has since reached State Library Station in the CBD (the TBMs follow an adjacent route, but with staggered timing) and these TBMs will complete their work when they carve out the 660m stretch between State Library and Town Hall stations (TBMs Millie and Alice will arrive at Town Hall from the south-east).

There is still a lot of work to be done at Arden to ensure the station is ready for day one operations in 2025. 

The Arden Station site is providing tunnelling support for the duration of tunnelling to the CBD, and major construction is continuing at and around the site. 

Laurens St will be realigned to support service investigations and relocations, and construction of the Arden Station entrance. This involves the narrowing of traffic and bicycle lanes and closure of sections of footpath and on street parking. 

A pedestrian crossing will be installed on Laurens St, south of Queensberry St, to enable pedestrians to safely cross Laurens St while part of the footpath is closed.

The Laurens St changes will remain in place from late February 2021 until late-2023.

Before construction of the Arden station entrance starts, support piles will be installed in late February to reinforce the station building foundation. Piling will continue for three weeks during daytime hours and is expected to generate up to high levels of noise. 

Construction of the Arden Station entrance structure is expected to start in April 2021.

Cross passage construction is continuing below ground, within the completed sections of tunnels. These passages are an important safety feature that allow people (including emergency services) to move from one tunnel to the other in the event of an emergency. The Metro Tunnel will have 26 cross passages located around 230 metres apart along its tunnel alignment.

As always, we greatly appreciate the public’s understanding and patience as we build this city-defining project •