Construction of the underground station box at Airport Central is now underway (see what the station will look like when it is complete below) and will soon also begin in Belmont. Likewise, construction of other structures along the alignment is progressing well, with two egress shafts now under construction and excavation of the dive structure at Forrestfield nearing completion.
First TBM arrives at Forrestfield
All sections of the project’s first TBM have now been delivered to the Forrestfield construction site. Throughout May more than 45 pieces of the TBM were transported from Henderson Port. The biggest section, the 164 tonne front shield, is seven metres wide and four metres high. Watch it being escorted to site, followed closely by the 143 tonne middle shield.
A 400-tonne crawler crane is onsite to assist with assembly of the TBM. A number of engineered lifts have already been conducted to move the sections of TBM into place. Watch as the front and middle shields are craned into position. Assembly and testing will continue over the next six weeks and then the TBM will be lowered into the dive structure. A competition to name our TBMs was run with school students across WA and winners will be announced before tunnelling begins in late July.
Have you seen Airport Central Station?
On Sunday 28 May, Premier Mark McGowan, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and WA Senator Mathias Cormann released artist impressions for Airport Central Station. The station, located at the base of the control tower at Perth Airport’s Terminal 1, will provide an 18 minute journey to the CBD via train. The most notable feature of the new station is the striking roof shape, inspired by the aerodynamic features of aircraft, which provides ample natural light to the concourse and platform levels. Fly through the new station and experience it for yourself.
Large machinery is now onsite to construct guide walls and diaphragm walls for the underground station box. This work will continue until early 2018, when the first TBM is expected to arrive at the site.
Emergency egress shafts along the rail alignment
The Forrestfield-Airport Link will travel through 8km of twin-bored tunnels, with safe entry and exit points via underground stations at Belmont and Airport Central. Trains will enter and exit the underground rail line via tunnel portals at Bayswater and Forrestfield.
Given the length of the tunnels, additional infrastructure is required between the stations to allow safe egress to ground level in the event of an emergency, and access to the tunnels for maintenance.
Three emergency egress shafts (EES) will be built along the alignment to provide access to the surface via stairs and lifts. Construction of the EES along Abernethy Road in Forrestfield is progressing well, and works will soon begin on the EES at Wright Crescent in Bayswater.
To find out more visit the EES construction page on the website.
Belmont Station public art
Works are progressing well at the Belmont Station site, with the area now ready for construction of the underground station box to begin. A development application for the station was submitted to the City of Belmont and Western Australian Planning Commission in late May. The public comment period will be advertised later this month, and a community information session will be held on 28 June at the Redcliffe Park Community Centre, to provide community members with a first look at the new station.
Design of the interior features of the station is also being progressed. Local curator Maggie Baxter has been chosen to facilitate public art to be displayed in and around Belmont Station. An installation, called Leaf Stories, will feature 12 leaves scattered throughout the station. Each leaf will be engraved with text taken from the Belmont Museum and contributions from the local community.
Members of the community are being encouraged to share memories for Maggie to incorporate into the artwork where possible. To fit on the leaves and be easily legible, the snippets of memories need to be no more than 30 words long.Submit your memories with you name and contact details to connect@forrestfieldairportlink.wa.gov.au by 5pm Friday 23 June.
Bayswater site establishment
A temporary construction site has been established at the corner of Railway Parade and Bassendean Road, Bayswater.
Work has begun to temporarily relocate the Midland Line, which needs to be built as far away from the dive structure as possible to provide a safe working environment. The ground is undulating and so filling is required to create the correct grade for the tracks. A retaining wall, 500m long and up to 5m high, needs to be constructed along Railway Parade to achieve this.
The temporary rail line will be constructed closer to Railway Parade between August and December, after which the existing Midland Line will be removed.
To find out more visit the Bayswater construction page on the website.