North East Link Project
Geotechnical investigation and soil testing services for Melbourne's longest road tunnels, connecting the M80 Ring Road to Eastern Freeway via twin 6.5km underground tunnels.
Project Overview
North East Link is Melbourne's biggest road transport project - a $15.8 billion investment that will complete the missing link in Melbourne's freeway network. Our geotechnical services supported this massive undertaking, providing soil testing and ground investigation for the twin 6.5km road tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen.
This project will take 15,000 trucks off local roads daily and reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes. Our team provided essential soil testing data to support the world's largest tunnel boring machines - each weighing 4,000 tonnes - as they carved through varied ground conditions including Melbourne Formation rock and weathered soils across Melbourne's north-east.
Project Challenges
Massive TBM Operations
Supporting Australia's largest tunnel boring machines required detailed ground assessment. Each 4,000-tonne TBM needed precise soil data to operate safely through varying geological conditions from Watsonia to Bulleen at up to 15 metres per day.
Residential Area Construction
Working in Melbourne's established north-east suburbs required careful environmental assessment. Our contamination testing helped identify soil conditions across residential areas while our monitoring supported community protection during construction.
Complex Ground Conditions
The 6.5km tunnel alignment passed through Melbourne Formation rock, weathered profiles, and variable soil conditions. Our detailed investigation program mapped these conditions to support TBM operations and tunnel design.
Environmental Compliance
Meeting strict Environmental Performance Requirements across construction phases required comprehensive soil classification and contamination assessment. Our NATA-accredited testing ensured compliance with Victoria's environmental laws.
Our Services
TBM Launch Site Investigation
Completed detailed geotechnical assessment at the Watsonia TBM launch site. Our testing supported the construction of launch boxes, gantry crane foundations, and the 550-tonne crane used to lower the massive tunnel boring machines into position.
Comprehensive Ground Investigation
Executed 240+ geotechnical investigations including standard penetration tests, cone penetration testing, and extensive laboratory analysis. This provided crucial data on ground behaviour for tunnel design and TBM operational planning.
Environmental Site Assessment
Conducted comprehensive contamination assessments across construction sites in Melbourne's north-east. Our environmental testing supported soil management planning and ensured compliance with EPA requirements throughout the project.
Construction Monitoring
Provided ongoing geotechnical support during TBM operations and tunnel construction. Our monitoring helped track ground behaviour as the massive machines worked 24/7 to complete Victoria's longest road tunnels.
Technical Approach
Site Investigation
SPT, CPT and environmental testing across 6.5km tunnel alignment
Ground Conditions
Melbourne Formation, weathered rock, and varied soil profiles
TBM Support
Ground assessment for 4,000-tonne tunnel boring machines
Contamination Assessment
Environmental testing in residential and industrial areas
Groundwater Analysis
Multi-level monitoring for tunnel dewatering assessment
Laboratory Testing
NATA-accredited analysis for construction materials and soil classification
Project Outcomes
Project Timeline
Early Investigation
2019-2020Desktop studies and preliminary ground assessment
Detailed Investigation
2020-2021Comprehensive geotechnical testing along tunnel alignment
Construction Support
2021-2023TBM launch site preparation and monitoring
Tunnelling Phase
2024-2026Ongoing support for tunnel boring machine operations
Final Phase
2027-2028Project completion and tunnel opening
Project Details
Services Provided
Project Progress
Need Infrastructure Testing?
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