Tunnelling

at roads and railways

The Western Corridor Recycled Water (WCRW) Project is a $2.4 billion

water supply network designed to diversify South East Queensland's
water sources. It involves treating wastewater to the highest standard –
resulting in purified recycled water.
Purified recycled water will be supplied to power stations, industry and
agricultural customers and the Wivenhoe Dam through a 200km
network of large diameter underground pipes, three advanced water
treatment plants and supporting infrastructure.
The WCRW Project is the largest advanced recycled water project of its
kind in the southern hemisphere. When complete, it will have the
capacity to deliver up to 232 megalitres of purified recycled water a day
to end users.
The Queensland Government is contributing $2 billion and the Australian
Government is contributing $408 million through the Water Smart
Australia Program.
This fact sheet explains how the project will tunnel under more than 90 roads
and railways using trenchless technology (tunnel boring and microtunnelling)
techniques.

Why tunnel under road and rail crossings?

Tunnel boring and microtunnelling causes minimal disturbance to sensitive areas where open
cut trenching is not possible or where roads and railways would need to be shut down during
construction. Trenchless technology allows the pipeline to be constructed under these sensitive
areas without causing any significant disturbances to the ground and existing underground
services.

What preparation work is needed?

An excavator digs temporary working pits on each side of the crossing. These pits are the start
and finish point for the microtunnelling/tunnel boring machine as it excavates the tunnel.
Sheet piling is inserted by a crane or excavator around the internal perimeter of the working
pit to provide reinforcement around the pit walls. A concrete base is laid in the pit to provide
a solid working surface. In soft ground, the sheet piling forms a steel wall around the internal
perimeter to support the soil around the pit. In ground where there is hard rock, no sheet
piling is necessary, however rock bolts and other supports may be needed.
The depth of the working pit is determined by the required tunnel/pipe alignment and the
position of nearby underground services. Each working pit will range from 6 to 14 metres in
depth, 12 metres in length and 5 to 12 metres in width.

When will pit construction occur?

The construction of pits will occur during normal working hours. Depending on design, the
depth of the pit and ground conditions, the construction of the working pit may take
between a few days and a few weeks.

Department of Infrastructure and Planning

The location of the pit will ensure the crossing is as
short as possible. During construction of the pit the
construction team will minimise any work within
existing utility easements and work primarily
within the pipeline easement, unless additional
temporary working space is required and secured.
The pit will be fenced off and secured at night to
ensure security and to prevent public access.
How is the tunnel built?
A crane lowers the tunnelling machine into the pit
and machine operators enter the pit. The machine
is propelled forward by successfully jacking the
machine and casing pipe whilst excavating a
tunnel.
The tunnels will be approximately 1.5 metres in
diameter to allow the 1086mm recycled water pipe
to be inserted inside the casing pipe. Where more
than one recycled water pipe is required in the one
alignment, separate tunnels are constructed for
each pipeline.
Tunnelling Operation Schematic
Printed on recycled paper
The operation of the machine and surface
equipment will create some noise around the
working pit, and some crossings may require night-
time operation of the machinery. Noise mitigation
will be implemented at the sites to ensure noise
levels are kept at a minimum. Spoil from the
tunnelling operation may be kept temporarily on
site and removed later.
What machines will be used?
A minimum of three modern tunnelling machines,
including an American Augers boring machine, a
Herrenknecht EPB1500 microtunnelling machine,
and an Akkerman WM48C tunnel boring machine,
will allow construction of pipelines under sensitive
areas (such as roads and railways) where open
trenching is not possible.
The auger boring machine will be used for short
crossings, the Akkerman machine will be used for
crossings averaging 100 metres in length and the
Herrenknecht machine will be used for longer
crossings. The machines will excavate the tunnels
using laser guidance systems. This maintains the
correct tunnel alignment for the installation of the
recycled water pipeline.
What equipment will be used on
the surface?
Surface equipment includes generators, craneage,
equipment storage containers, hydraulic power
packs, Bentonite mixing/pumping equipment and
site amenities.
For more information
Contact the Project Team:
Phone: 1800 997 464 (freecall)
Email: info@westerncorridor.com.au
www.westerncorridor.com.au
March 2008
Department of Infrastructure and Planning