$2.16bn contract awarded for tunnelling works on Sydney Metro West

New South Wales’ massive Sydney Metro West development is progressing even further with the award of a $2.16 billion contract to deliver the Western Tunnelling Package. 

The multi-billion-dollar contract has been awarded to the Laing O’Rourke and Gamuda Australia joint venture. 

“We are proud once to once again partner with the NSW Government to deliver a vital piece of infrastructure for Sydney Metro West. 

“Laing O’ Rourke and Gamuda share an innovation mindset and a commitment to people which will be at the heart of this successful consortium,” Laing O’ Rourke Managing Director Cathal O’ Rourke said. 

Scope of works under the Western Tunnelling Package include: 

• Twin 9-kilometre tunnels from Sydney Olympic Park to Westmead 
• A tunnel boring machine launch site at Rosehill, tunnelling first toward Sydney Olympic Park and relaunched from Rosehill towards Westmead 
• Excavation for a services facility and crossover structure at Rosehill to allow provision for fresh air ventilation and emergency egress 
• Tunnel portal and dive excavation at Clyde Services and Maintenance Facility 
• Earthworks, retaining structures, drainage and utilities corridor for the Clyde Maintenance Facility 
• Excavation and civil works for Parramatta and Westmead stations 
• A segment manufacturing facility at Eastern Creek constructing over 60,000 segments 

“There is a huge opportunity for us to leave a positive legacy through this project. This includes establishing a Tunnel Infrastructure Academy, to create sustainable jobs by training a more diverse and inclusive tunnelling and infrastructure workforce,” Gamuda Australia Project Director Simon Hussey said. 

Once completed, the 24-kilometre Sydney Metro West will provide faster and more frequent train services to major employment and education hubs as well as connect Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. 

Sydney Metro West is also going to be connected to the rest of Sydney’s public transport system. 

This new metro line will have new stations built at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD. 

“This is a very exciting transport project for Gamuda to deliver. Gamuda brings decades of international experience in metro rail construction and engineering innovation. 

“We look forward to working collaboratively with the NSW Government and Sydney Metro to ensure the benefits of this project are released through job creation, local and sustainable procurement as well as community partnerships for Western Sydney,” Gamuda Australia Executive Director Ewan Yee said. 

Early works on the Western Tunnelling Package is due to commence in the coming weeks, with major tunnel excavation to begin in late 2023. 

Source: Sydney Metro (1, 2); Laing O’Rourke; Gamuda Australia