South Australia is set to receive additional tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to expedite the $15.4 billion Torrens to Darlington project.
The state government, in collaboration with the River Torrens to Darlington Alliance, has finalised a contract for the procurement of three initial machines from leading manufacturer Herrenknecht.
SA Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis announced that plans are also in place to acquire two smaller TBMs, with the possibility of adding a third to facilitate excavation work between the main tunnels of the project.
The state government has signed off on cutting-edge technology for the Torrens to Darlington project. #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/wxCWlhfVTL
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) September 29, 2024
The agreement for the first three machines was formalised during a signing ceremony held at Herrenknecht’s headquarters in Germany on Friday, September 27.
The total cost of all TBMs is expected to be around $180 million, with the first expected to arrive late next year.
Mr Koutsantonis said Friday’s deal represented “one of the biggest purchases of building equipment in South Australia’s history.”
“The fact we’ve also confirmed additional purchases of up to three smaller TBMs to fast-track related works gives us even more confidence that we will deliver this project on budget and on time – if not even earlier,” he added.
Source: The Advertiser.