Construction Clem Jones Tunnel

the boring machine dubbed matilda

construction commenced in september 2006. @ start of project longest road tunnel being built in country. 3.5 million tonnes of excavated rock removed conveyor, stored in silos , taken away truck. during typical weekday period more 25 trucks per hour hauling removed soil , rock along kingsford smith drive area near brisbane airport.

during construction 1,700 staff , visitors inside tunnel located @ time using rfid tagging system transmits person s location wirelessly. system designed monitor site access , asset location , improve safety , efficiency in high-profile , potentially hazardous worksite.

difficult drilling conditions, due hard brisbane tuff rock under inner brisbane, encountered , overcome. both purpose-built double-shield boring machines began on northern end, first arriving in brisbane in july 2007 , cutting commencing in december after testing. @ time, tunneling machines biggest in world, weighing 4,000 tonnes , being 250 m (820 ft) in length. each machine cost a$50 million build. boring machines of 12.34 m (40.5 ft) diameter each built german firm herrenknecht , can dig 20 m (66 ft) per day. when finished boring machines had placed 37,000 precast linings. smaller roadheader machines began southern end in february 2007.

tunnel entrance @ bowen hills (clem7 community open day) toll gantry , transitional light filters above

by september 2008, tbm 2 (named florence) had reached kangaroo point on southern side of brisbane river; tbm 1 (named matilda), began in march 2008, still tunneling under river. time bridges had reached final construction stages @ northern portal , morrissey street bridge in woolloongabba. in december 2008, florence had connected eastern entrance tunnels shafston avenue. april 2009 tunnel excavation 85% complete. florence completed tunnelling work on 16 april 2009, while matilda completed tunneling work on 26 may 2009.

there controversy on environmental hazards may caused construction , operation. in march 2005, local residents protested construction plans due expected air pollution exhaust ventilation stacks. 1 43 m (141 ft) purple structure built in jurgens street, woolloongabba, 36 m (118 ft) red stack constructed in o connell terrace, bowen hills.