A consortium led by John Holland, CPB Contractors and Italian civil engineer Ghella has won a US$1.1bn contract to dig the final tunnel of Sydney Metro West under the city’s central business district.
Work on the Eastern Tunnelling Package includes 3.5km of metro tunnels between future stations at The Bays and Hunter Street, and the excavation of caverns and shafts at Pyrmont and Hunter Street.
Starting at The Bays, tunnel boring machines will cross the harbour near the Anzac Bridge before heading to the Pyrmont and then under Darling Harbour to Hunter Street Station in the centre of Sydney.
The JCG consortium beat two other shortlisted teams to the contract, one led by Acciona and Ferrovial, the other by Bouygues and Vinci.
Juan Santamaria, Cimic’s executive chair, said: “Cimic is pleased to have the opportunity to support social connectivity, economic growth and new opportunities in western Sydney through the delivery of this city-shaping transport spine.”
Jason Spears, CPB’s managing director, added: “CPB Contractors has unmatched expertise in delivering major tunnelling projects in Sydney. We’ll be drawing on our experience to deliver this package while maximising training and employment opportunities for local people.”
Sydney Metro West will double rail capacity between the Greater Parramatta district and central Sydney, with a 20-minute target travel time between the two.
Construction of the Eastern Tunnelling Package will begin in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in 2025.
Full completion of Sydney Metro West is due in 2030.
John Holland is the Australian subsidiary of China Communications, CPB is a subsidiary of Cimic Group, ultimately controlled by ACS of Spain.
A consortium featuring CPB and John Holland also won a major works package for a rail link to Melbourne Airport in September 2022.
