Category Archives: Metro Tunnel

Metro Tunnel

CYP update

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Good afternoon everyone, Hope everyone dodged the drizzly start to the day and is ready for some nicer weather this weekend.

Below is a snapshot of the works coming up on site next week.

Anzac Station entrance construction – Tram Interchange

The skylights on the roof of the tram interchange continue to be installed this week – the continual wet weather hasn’t helped progress, but the steel frames for the skylights are arriving to site, before the glazing is attached and the sections are craned onto the roof and installed. The team is also installing the fascia around the canopy ring beam and the under-skylight flashing.

Down under the tram canopy preparations backfilling works are continuing around the central platform all next week. This will be followed by the preparation works for the construction of the tram platform itself. This will involve laying the conduits for all the drainage and electrical components that need to run underneath the platform. As we’ve notified previously, once they kick off, these works will continue up until 10pm during the evening with an excavator progressively digging out the shallow trench, as the conduits are progressively laid and the area is then backfilled.

It may not look like it now, but in less than four months passengers will be getting on and off trams at this tram stop. So over these next four months the entire area will be a hive of activity.

Station box construction

While the focus is on the numerous activities above ground, the team down in the station box have been making some great progress. Down at platform level almost the entire length of platform precast has been installed, and the majority of these sections have also had the concrete topping slab poured.  When constructing the central island platform, the team leave a gap in the platform, this allows access to both sides of the station box for crews and machinery – it also allows the team to get in underneath the platform to continue the installation of the myriad of conduits and cables underneath the station platform. Today we’ve included a photo of one of the last sections of the station platform to have its concrete topping slab poured. The crew are preparing the reinforcement ready for a pour.

Up at concourse level the fitout team are still hard at work building all the back rooms in the northern sections and doing the finer detailed fitout works in the southern section.

Shrine Entrance

The newest arrival to site is the piling rig, which is going about its business adjacent to Domain Road. It is constructing the piles around the perimeter of the second stage of the Shrine entrance. In the coming weeks we’ll commence excavation down to a depth of around 10m within this piled perimeter.

Surface Works

At the southern most end of the site the D-wall demolition has all but finished with just some minor trimming works remaining next week. The end of the demolition means the start of the NDD or sucker trucks, and this will be the case for the first few days of next week. In the middle box, there is one small section left to be done. The table below has the breakdown of these activities for next week. Outside this, the focus is purely on surface preparation, with works under way to prepare the area for the new southbound lane of St Kilda Road to be built through site.

The team at the northern most end are well on their way on this same endeavour. As we have mentioned previously, this section of road on St Kilda Road that was previously a site access road and site sheds, will later this year become the southbound lane of St Kilda Road.

Park Street Works

We understand that there has been a closure of the left turn from St Kilda Road into Park Street, these are CitiPower works and we have been in touch to enquire about the duration. We understand that the turn ban will likely be in place until Tuesday. We have been asked about traffic works down at the intersection of Park Street and Kings Way, but we are not aware of these works or who might be responsible.

Metro Tunnel related works on Park Street have been pushed back until October.

D-wall/Delayed Pour Strip/Backfill Works Lookahead   
Monday29/8Tuesday30/8Wednesday31/8Thursday1/9Friday2/9Saturday3/9
Southern Section:NDD Cleanout of delayed pour strip (DPS)Loadout spoilSteel Plate cuttingMiddle Section:Steel fixing and final clean of DPSSouthern Section:NDD Cleanout of DPSLoadout spoilSteel Plate cuttingSteel plate removalMiddle Section:Pour DPSSouthern Section:NDD Cleanout of DPSLoadout spoilSteel plate removalMiddle Section:Partial Backfill, commence D-wall demolitionSouthern Section:D-Wall demoLoadout spoilMiddle Section:Partial Backfill, commence D-wall demolitionSouthern Section:D-Wall demo completionLoadout spoilDPS FRPMiddle Section:D-wall demolitionSouthern Section:Loadout spoilDPS FRPMiddle Section:D-wall clean-up

Thanks, Rob and Christian

Metro Tunnel

More on CYP

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Summary of activities this week in the south

You will notice that D-wall demolition works will continue on top of the southern station box with the hammer and excavator working from north to south throughout this week.

Following this stage, we will continue the clean out of the delayed pour strip in this area with NDD sucker trucks in operation this week and going into next week.

Towards the end of this week, there will be some form reo pour with concrete pouring in those sections that have been cleaned out.

This will be the bulk of the works in this zone but do let us know if you have any further questions.

Happy to assist wherever possible.

Best regards

Rob and Christian

Metro Tunnel

That back wall

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Thanks to all who sent me photos – here are a few

We discussed it at a recent Committee meeting. A few things to note

  • It seems what people think about the ‘trellis’ depends very heavily on the level they are on. This reflects the state of the structure.
  • It needs some attention / repair.
  • We do NOT intend to remove it.
  • The big issue we have is the access to it. The recent modifications to the building at 1 Bowen Cres has made difficult abseiling access now extremely difficult or impossible.
  • We think that whatever actions we take, needs to be for the long term. To gain access and then do a stop gap fix, is not supported.
  • At this stage it seems that our best plan will be to use scaffolding. We understand that this is intrusive for ground floor residents and if we are to go down that path then it would make sense to paint the back of our building at the same time. (That work needs scaffolding)
  • Repainting the back of the building and fix the ‘trellis’ /wall is a BIG job and we need to manage carefully but can be done sooner rather than later.

Bottom line – we have not forgotten about it and we are looking at options.

BTW – who put that blue cat bowl on the top of the trellis?? Or more importantly, who can get it down?

Metro Tunnel

CYP Weekly update

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Good evening all,

Hope everyone had a great week, below is a summary of construction activities happening on-site next week.

Surface Works

From the northern end of site, preparations are underway for the next stage to realign the southbound lane on St Kilda Road. Road works and kerbing of the Copenhagen style bike lanes will continue here next week, framing the future southbound lane in its legacy position. As these works move further south towards the pedestrian crossing, you may see some minor shifts of site fencing at our site gate entrance which will ensure the continuity of the kerbing and asphalting over the coming weeks.

Past the pedestrian crossing into the Shrine Gardens, you may have noticed a small piling rig set up within our site today. Next week, piling will continue here which will position one of the future entrance points to the underground station.

Towards the centre of site, the team have been constructing a retaining wall to continue more subgrade roadworks within site. These roadworks within site will enable the next switch of the southbound lane late next month.

Along the eastern perimeter of site to the south, the team have begun this week to build the permanent driveway crossover connecting St Kilda Road with Melbourne Grammar School. These works will be staged in two parts next week with minor shifts of the fencing perimeter to maintain north/ south pedestrian pathways on the eastern side of St Kilda Road.

Anzac Station entrance construction – Tram Interchange

Surrounding the tram platform, trenching will continue with installation of concrete pipes for drainage and installation of conduits for tram platform communication services. While different teams are working within this area, trenching and canopy roof works will be sequenced which may require some out of hours works until 10pm over the next few weeks. Work undertaken will include a small team laying conduit and trenching that may require an excavator at times and some work on the canopy fascia requiring a scissor lift.  

On the canopy of the tram platform, cladding of the roof is almost complete with the team working on the bordered fascia over the next couple of weeks. This week, two of the skylights were installed with glazing of the skylights continuing over the next couple of weeks.

Station box construction

Underneath the surface on B1, mechanical and electrical finishing works continue in the north and south. Blockwork, painting and insulation works continue at the northern end that will form the back of house customer service and operation rooms. At the southern end, we will be installing the back of house goods lift to service the subsurface levels.

On B2 we have recently recommenced blockwork which over the coming week will build up more plant and service rooms from an open space.

Civil Works Lookahead – New Southern Section   
Monday22/8Tuesday23/8Wednesday24/8Thursday25/8Friday26/8Saturday27/8
Excavation of temporary fill above delayed pour strip (DPS)Expose DPS reinforcementCleanout ventilation shaft U-barsExcavation of temporary fill above DPSExpose DPS reinforcementCleanout ventilation shaft U-barsExpose DPS reinforcement & cleanoutCleanout ventilation shaft U-barsExpose DPS reinforcementDPS cleanout
(*NDD Trucks*)		Expose DPS reinforcementDPS cleanout
(*NDD Trucks*)DPS steelwork check and repair 		Expose DPS reinforcementDPS cleanout(*NDD Trucks*)DPS steelwork check and repair

Thanks, Rob and Christian

Metro Tunnel

CYP weekly update

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Good Afternoon everyone,

Hope everyone had a great week, below is a wrap-up of construction activities happening on-site next week.

Surface Works

Starting in the south of the site today, the clear out of the surface has opened up the site of the future ventilation structures. The first of the pre-case segments for these ventilation structures are expected at the end of August. Preparation will begin next week to get these areas ready for pre-cast installation.

D-wall demolition started alongside these structures this week, but will now pause to allow works to commence to expose the delayed pour strip section.

Those at the southern end of the site may have noticed that there is a loose pit lid in the middle of the road that is making a clunking sound as cars drive over it. We have applied for a permit to close St Kilda Road southbound for a period of time and fix this pit lid during the evening – the earliest this will be able to occur is at the back end of next week.  We’ll send around a separate note once we’ve got approval to close the lane and carry out the works.

Moving up to the middle section of the site, backfilling is almost complete adjacent to the entrance canopy and adjacent to the access road across the site. The completion of this backfill will allow the access road across site to be shifted slightly and on Thursday and Friday next week the team will begin the excavation and d-wall demolition for the small remaining section that sat underneath the site access road.

Elsewhere along the edge of site, surface preparations are underway for the construction of the new road surface that will run alongside Melbourne Grammar School. Later this year the south bound lane of St Kilda Road will be switched over to this side of the site, preparations are now underway for these road works to commence.

On the topic of road works – if you’ve walked along the side of the of the site on the Shrine side of St Kilda Road, you might have noticed quite a bit of activity up where the project site sheds used to be. If you’re particularly eagle-eyed you may have also noticed that the first of the legacy Copenhagen style separated bike lanes has now been installed. While perhaps not as grand as the station canopy, this is a small but significant milestone, as sections of the final road design begin to be put in place.

Over on Park Street progress has been less prolific, CitiPower have advised us that they have encountered some unexpected issues with the HV conduits that were to be connected. As a result, next week they will be removing the barriers on the roadway and reinstating the left turn into Park Street from St Kilda Road. The same site setup will be re-established later once CitiPower have resolved the issue. We’ll provide more information in the coming weeks as CitiPower advise on the timing.

Anzac Station entrance construction – Tram Interchange

The roof cladding on the top of the station is now complete, those with a view over the site may have seen some of the skylight frames lowered onto the roof last week and then removed to rectify some issues that were identified. The installation will recommence next week. In addition to the skylight installation profile fascia will also begin to be installed around the perimeter next week.

We mentioned in last weeks update that the trenching and installation of the conduits has begun. This work will ramp up significantly over the coming weeks and in two weeks time these works will extend out until 10pm on certain nights. The laying of conduits will involve the use of a small excavator to dig a shallow trench, with the drainage pipes and conduits progressively laid in the pits as the excavator makes its away along the platform, before being backfilled. We’ll have more information about these works in next weeks update.

Station box construction

Underground, the progress has been steady, with the topping slabs being poured on top of the precast sections of the station platform. Almost the entire southern half of the station platform has now been poured, with works now commencing at the northern end of the platform. In other milestones ductwork is being installed next week alongside the over-track exhaust pre-cast, while both the northern and southern fire escape stairs are now complete and is being used for access from the concourse level down on to the platform.

Civil Works Lookahead – New Southern Section   
Monday15/8Tuesday16/8Wednesday17/8Thursday18/8Friday19/8Saturday20/8
Excavation of temporary fill above delayed pour strip (DPS)Expose DPS reinforcementCleanout ventilation shaft U-barsExcavation of temporary fill above DPSExpose DPS reinforcementCleanout ventilation shaft U-barsExpose DPS reinforcement & cleanoutCleanout ventilation shaft U-barsExpose DPS reinforcementDPS cleanout
(*NDD Trucks*)		Expose DPS reinforcementDPS cleanout
(*NDD Trucks*)DPS steelwork check and repair 		Expose DPS reinforcementDPS cleanout(*NDD Trucks*)DPS steelwork check and repair

Thanks, Rob and Christian