Changes to the design and construction approach to Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel project have been proposed, with the stated purpose to improve accessibility, reduce construction impacts and provide better outcomes for the delivery and operation.
A draft Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) has been made available for the public, who will be able to provide feedback until 17 April 2018.
To enable to changes to go ahead, a Design and Development Overlay (DDO) will be required also, which will incorporate the design refinements to protect the tunnels and stations from future nearby developments.
The proposed design changes include utilising a trinocular station design – which will integrate the concourse and platforms on a single level – for the State Library and Town Hall stations, with “minor changes” to the tunnel alignment between Parkville and Town Hall stations.
Also being proposed is a new passenger connection from Town Hall Station to Flinders Street Station via Campbell Arcade, which will reportedly minimise impacts to heritage aspects of the main Flinders Street Station building and reduce crowding on the Flinders Street Station concourse.
Other changes include the use of underground support structures at Parkville Station, State Library Station and Town Hall Station, and the carrying out of additional roadworks to support the construction of the tunnels and the new stations.
From 23 March, a draft PSA will also be made available for several upgrades on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, including the installation of next-generation signalling technology and upgrades to infrastructure. Feedback will be open on the document until 21 April 2018.