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Aussie city's 8 bln USD rail upgrade to be dug entirely underground

Xinhua, October 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Months of traffic upheaval at one of Australia's major city thoroughfares has been averted after the Victorian state government unveiled on Wednesday a new plan for Melbourne's multi-billion dollar rail network.

The plan revolves around digging the 8 billion U.S dollar Melbourne Metro Rail Project entirely underground rather than excavating the city's roadways in a "cut and cover" tunnel method.

Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Wednesday that Swanston Street, which runs through the middle of the Central Business District (CBD), would now not be subject to on-going traffic disruptions.

The government has worked closely with engineering and architectural experts to get the project, required for a major upgrade to the public transport network, built entirely underground.

The announcement means tram and car traffic will not need to be diverted to western parts of the city centre, and businesses along the street can remain open.

Victoria's Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said there would still be minor disruptions in the city CBD while construction took place, but this technique offered the "best outcome" to minimize any disturbance.

"This is a project that is going to cost a significant amount of money ... but it is such an important and vital project for our city," Allan told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

"The heart of Melbourne will keep moving while the heart of our transport system is transformed below it."

"There will still be disruption to the CBD during construction - you can't build a project of this scale without some impact - but trams will keep running and less businesses will be affected."

Allan said the cost of implementing the construction technique which will bore tunnels beside the street was "comparable" to the original estimate.

The Melbourne Metro Rail Project has promised to deliver a twin-line, nine-kilometer rail tunnel linking the city's inner west to south-east.

Five new underground stations will also be constructed along the line.

Earlier this week, the first round of compulsory property acquisitions were made public, with almost 100 owners told their site would be required in the construction phase of the rail project. Endit