Work on the construction of a new light rail tunnel in Sydney has taken a big step, with the first base slab of concrete poured at the site on November 1.
The tunnel is part of the CBD and South East Light Rail project, and will guide the line under Anzac Parade, a six-lane road which connects the city with the south-eastern suburb of La Perouse.
Crews have been working on the site since April, with a diversion built beside Anzac Parade, and excavation well underway of what will be roughly 84,000 tonnes of material.
“The base slab going in today is a big step forward, cementing the foundation for tracks which will be installed next year,” state transport minister Andrew Constance said. “The tunnel is an important piece of the 12-kilometre light rail alignment and once complete will provide a direct link from the CBD to the sporting and entertainment precinct at Moore Park.”
The tunnel will be over 500 metres long, beginning at the recently-built bridge over the Eastern Distributor, and ending near the Sydney Football Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground, where a stop will be built.
Crews will use the fill excavated from the tunnel elsewhere around the project.