Engineering, Passenger Rail

First Melbourne Metro work goes to market

Melbourne Metro cutaway - Photo Victorian Government

The first package of works on the Melbourne Metro Rail project will go to the market today (Wednesday), Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced.

Andrews joined minister for public transport Jacinta Allan on Monday to announce the early works package for the multi-billion project.

The pair said the package will deliver critical works to prepare key sites for the start of major construction in 2018.

Planned works include moving and protecting gas, sewer and water mains, stormwater pipes and telecommunications cables.

Early works also includes relocation of trees and other road features to enable to the construction sites to be established, Andrews explained.

Minor road and tram diversions will be put in place near the Domain Interchange, to enable early works to be carried out, the government outlined.

“Melbourne Metro Rail will unclog our train network, creating an international-style turn-up-and-go underground metro system,” the premier said.

“This project has been spoken about for a decade, and was abandoned by the short-sighted previous Government.”

Allan added: “These early works will set up key sites for major construction in 2018, so we can deliver Melbourne Metro Rail as soon as possible.

“The Melbourne Metro cross-city rail tunnel will deliver the high-capacity, high-frequency metro system Melbourne needs, and lays the foundation for future growth of our train network.”

The Early Works EOI will be available on the Victorian Government Tenders website: www.tenders.vic.gov.au. Applications close on 23 December 2015.