Milan, August 20, 2024 – Two giant tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) are starting on their underground journey to excavate the North East Link (NEL) motorway project that will improve the transport network in Melbourne, Australia. The Webuild Group, under the Spark joint venture, is involved in designing and building about 6.5 km of twin, three-lane tunnels and related works in the city’s northeast.

With the assembly of the TBMs complete, excavation will begin at an average speed of approximately 10 metres per day, reaching a depth of up to 45 metres. With a cu1erhead of 15.6 metres in diameter, one of the largest in the world, and more than 90 metres, these giant machines exceed 4,000 tonnes each.

NEL is the biggest investment in a road project in Victoria’s history, and once complete, the tunnels will be the longest of their kind in the state. The project will provide the missing link to the city’s road network, connecting the Eastern Freeway and the M80 Ring Road. It will contribute to reducing traffic congestion and travel times, as well as improve road safety. It is creating thousands of jobs and guaranteeing economic growth and development along the entire supply chain.

Australia is Webuild’s biggest market outside Italy. With its Clough subsidiary, the Group is developing a number of strategic projects across the country and entering new segments that can contribute to its energy transition. It is developing Snowy 2.0, the most complex project under construction and the largest one dedicated to renewable energy in the country. It has three TBMs creating the vast network of tunnels. One of them, named Kirsten, is among the first in the world to be able to excavate from a decline of 9 percent to an upward angle of 47 percent.

Webuild is a global leader in tunnelling, with a fleet of 58 TBMs that are being assembled, have been ordered or are to be ordered for upcoming projects. It has 15 of them in operation on work sites across the globe at the moment, led by tunnelling experts from dozens of nationalities.