Major work starts for Sydney Metro CBD stations
Construction activity for Sydney Metro has started in the Sydney CBD, marking a major milestone in the delivery of Australia’s biggest public transport project.
Demolitions have now begun to make way for the new Pitt Street and Martin Place metro stations, two of the 31 stations on Sydney’s new 66 kilometre rail system.
“This is the first major construction activity to take place in the Sydney CBD for the start of a once-in-a-century infrastructure project,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“These demolitions allow us to get straight in and start building the twin railway tunnels and the new stations, with the first of five tunnel boring machines in the ground before the end of next year.”
Sydney Metro includes three new CBD metro railway stations – at Barangaroo, Martin Place and Pitt Street – as well as new platforms under Central Station.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance asked the public to be aware of the work and stay safe around construction sites.
“As Sydney Metro construction increases in the CBD, it’s important that people pay attention when crossing the road, be aware of increased truck movements and watch out for changed conditions around construction sites,” Mr Constance said.
The new metro station construction sites will look similar to other major development sites in the CBD – with buildings coming down, then excavation work deep underground before the new stations start to take shape.
To help minimise the impact of demolition, Sydney Metro will use state-of-the-art equipment - pulverisers and concrete shears attached to excavators will grind away buildings, significantly cutting the noise levels generated by traditional hydraulic hammering.
Excavators have been craned more than 80 metres to the top of city buildings, from where they be demolished from the top down. Sites will be excavated up to 30m below ground to where the new twin metro rail tunnels will be built.
“Bringing down buildings in a busy city is a complex task, but by using the latest equipment we’re working hard to minimise the impact on surrounding businesses, workers and residents as much as possible,” Mr Constance said.
Major demolition work is expected to finish in early 2019 with 17 buildings to be removed to make way for Pitt Street and Martin Place stations.
Sydney Metro services start in the first half of 2019 on the Sydney Metro Northwest project, with metro rail to be extended in 2024 under Sydney Harbour, through the CBD and beyond to Bankstown.
Sydney Metro will have ultimate capacity of a new metro train every two minutes in each direction under the Sydney CBD.
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