The Project in Perth

The award-winning Forrestfield-Airport Link (FAL) project forms a major piece of Perth’s future infrastructure network as the Western Australian capital continues its march toward a projected population of 3.5 million by 2050, almost double its current total.
The world-class rail project, recently completed by Webuild (previously Salini Impregilo) and locally based joint-venture partner NRW, connects Perth’s airport and eastern suburbs to the CBD and existing suburban rail network.
Featuring the construction of three new rail stations linked together by two eight-kilometre twin-bored tunnels, the project will more than halve travel times for commuters and generate 20,000 daily passenger trips with capacity for up to 29,000 trips by 2031.
Now known as METRONET Airport Line, the service will also reduce road traffic and travelling times by taking an estimated 15,000 cars off the road, in turn easing pressure on Perth’s road network and reducing air pollution.

Client: Public Transport Authority of Western Australia

Contractor: Webuild (former Salini Impregilo) and its joint-venture partner NRW Pty Ltd

Project Value: AUS 1.86 billion

Innovative Solutions for Perth

With its extensive global experience and 115-year history, Webuild has brought with it a range of innovative solutions to ensure the project is delivered with maximum efficiency and minimal disruption for the people of Perth:

• A purpose-built factory was established for the project, with a concrete batching plant, a carousel line and a steam curing chamber operated by Boral Ltd.
• Two Tunnel Boring Machines (named Grace and Sandy by local school children) that simultaneously excavate and install concrete lining were specifically designed for the project and operated around the clock.
• With Tunnel Boring taking place directly under the Perth airport runway, more than 10,000 sensors were used to ensure the runway did not sink at all during the tunnelling process.