Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs)Two TBMs will be used on Cross River Rail to build the twin tunnels between the Woolloongabba precinct and the Northern Tunnel Portal.

TBMs are high-tech tunnelling machines. Essentially a mobile factory, the TBMs install a concrete lining as it bores, which will form the walls of the tunnel. Behind the TBM, crews work to install electrics, ventilation and safety systems.

After reaching the Northern Tunnel Portal, the TBMs will be extracted from the ground and dismantled.

Work hoursWork to construct the Northern Tunnel Portal will generally take place during standard construction hours from 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Saturday and haulage to 10:00pm Monday to Friday.

Work outside these hours will be required. We will notify the surrounding community ahead of any work to be undertaken outside standard construction hours. Workers may arrive onsite one hour prior to the planned start time to prepare for work activities.

The Northern Tunnel Portal

Fact Sheet

Cross River Rail is a 10.2 kilometre rail line from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills, which includes 5.9 kilometres of tunnels under the Brisbane River and Brisbane CBD.

The Northern Tunnel Portal, located within the rail corridor at Normanby and adjacent to Victoria Park, is a 405-metre-long concrete structure where trains will enter and exit the Cross River Rail twin tunnels.

The Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) which start at the Woolloongabba site, end their journey here, with the tunnel and track connecting to the surface rail line at this location.

Ground level405m long

To Roma Street station

To Exhibition stationPre-cast concrete roof panels

Approximately 430 piles

Concrete base slab

15m deep

After relocating existing underground services, approximately 430 piles will be installed within the rail corridor to support excavation of the structure, which will be 15m deep at its western edge.

Once excavation is complete, and the TBMs are extracted from the tunnels, pre-cast concrete panels will be installed in a 200m section to form the roof of the tunnel structure. The remaining section of the structure will be either propped or remain open.

The base of the structure will also be concreted with more than 10,000m³ of concrete being used to construct the Northern Tunnel Portal.

After construction of the structure is complete, it will be the primary access to the tunnel for installation of rail and supporting services for the remainder of the project.

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