William Scott
As 2024 draws to a close, the Victorian Government has outlined its progress on the Suburban Rail Loop and what’s in store for 2025.
More than 1500 people have worked on the project in 2024, with boots on the ground at all six station sites and the train stabling facility.
The first major tunnelling contractors are now on site, kicking off major construction in Clayton soon after a blitz of works to move underground services and prepare the site earlier this year.
The second major tunnelling contract has been awarded and three bidders have been shortlisted to build the six underground SRL East stations.
The tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch site at Burwood is now more than 9m deep and getting deeper, as workers prepare for the start of tunnelling in 2026.
The first four TBMs for SRL East have been ordered and will start arriving on site next year.
Almost 870 women applied to be part of SRL’s all-women TBM crew, with the assessment process now underway.
Crews started building a temporary bridging structure along Whitehorse Road in Box Hill that will keep local traffic moving during construction of the station underneath.
As Australia’s largest housing project, SRL East will help deliver 70,000 additional homes in the areas around the six new underground stations.
Thousands of responses have been received from communities and councils to SRL’s draft visions and key directions, which will help shape structure plans for these neighbourhoods – and there are more opportunities for locals to have their say in 2025.
What’s in store for 2025?
Works will power ahead from mid-January. Here’s a snapshot of what’s coming up:
- Box Hill: Construction continues on the Whitehorse Road bridging structure and preparations for major construction
- Burwood: The first TBM launch site will be completed. When it’s finished, the site will be 19m deep, 38m long and 29m wide
- Glen Waverley: Myrtle Street will be realigned to run parallel to Glendale Street. There will be ground investigations and site establishment at the new emergency support facility in Mount Waverley
- Monash: Howleys Road will be widened at Ferntree Gully Road, Normanby Road widened at Blackburn Road, and demolition works completed at the new station site
- Clayton: Main works starting on the underground connection to the existing station and to prepare for excavation of the new SRL station
- Cheltenham: Demolition and moving services get underway to pave the way for the new underground station and twin tunnels
While construction continues in 2025, detours, traffic management and notifications will be in place to help locals and motorists plan ahead.
