Early works ramp up on Suburban Rail Loop & EOIs begin for an all-women tunnelling crew

The delivery of the transformative Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East project in Victoria continues to progress as early works ramp up to prepare for the start of major tunnelling activities in 2026. 

Early works will include road closures as well as moving underground utilities and building demolitions, with all works to be carried out together to minimise the overall impact of the project on the community and local traffic. 

From 27 August to late October, Clayton Road will be closed between Colonel Street and Haughton Road as crews move underground utilities and deliver a replacement park that features new exercise and play equipment with designs shaped by the local community. 

Sections of Haughton Road and Carinish Road are also expected to be closed at times during the early works period. 

However, emergency vehicle access such as ambulance access to the nearby medical precinct will be maintained at all times. 

“We’re minimising disruption as much as possible while we build Suburban Rail Loop and we encourage locals and drivers to plan ahead as we get on with this critical work. 

“SRL will slash travel times, deliver new travel connections and 70,000 new homes. We thank residents and traders for their patience as we build this city-shaping project,” Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Danny Pearson said. 

Whitehorse Road in Box Hill will be closed overnight at times throughout the rest of the year to enable crews to move utilities and construct a temporary bridge to keep traffic flowing during construction. 

In Burwood, underground services will be moved to make way for the new SRL station and lane closures on Burwood Highway will be observed at times. 

From September until later this year, Coleman Parade in Glen Waverley will be closed as workers move underground services. Meanwhile, Old Dandenong Road in Heatherton will be permanently closed between Henry Street and Kingston Road from October to make way for the new train stabling facility. 

“We thank the community for their patience as we get on with delivering this city-shaping project – I would also encourage people to continue supporting local businesses along Clayton Road during this time,” Member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos said. 

Suburban Rail Loop map (source: Victoria's Big Build)

The SRL East development will also be seeing a world first all-women tunnel boring machine (TBM) crew, with Expressions of Interest now underway. 

SRL East Tunnels South Construction Manager Isolde Piet will be leading a crew of 25 highly skilled women – including a TBM operator, gantry and segment crane operators, and support roles. 

This provides once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for a new generation of women looking to have a career in construction or wanting to change industries. 

About 10 per cent of total labour hours on the SRL East tunnels will be carried out by women. 

“This is an example of the incredible opportunities a project like Suburban Rail Loop can deliver – an all-female tunnelling crew is a global first that will break down barriers and create new pathways for women. 

“Suburban Rail Loop will not only transform our public transport network, but it will create a long pipeline of jobs and opportunities for all Victorians,” Minister Pearson said. 

“Our all-female led TBM crew is a world first and will encourage more women to take part in our thriving construction industry,” Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins said. 

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be a part of this incredible project and this history-making initiative, which I hope will encourage many more women to join the industry,” Tunnel Boring Machine Pilot Isolde Piet said. 

This world first initiative is the peak of the Victorian Government’s decade-long work to improve gender equality right across the State’s major projects and transport sectors. 

The Suburban Rail Loop will deliver a 90-kilometre orbital rail line that will provide a direct link to Melbourne Airport, helping relieve congestion on roads and other transport networks while connecting people to key destinations across the city. 

The project is being delivered on four sections, namely: 

• SRL East – Cheltenham to Box Hill 

• SRL North – Box Hill to Melbourne Airport 

• SRL Airport – Melbourne Airport to Sunshine 

• SRL West – Sunshine to Werribee 

Construction on SRL East commenced in 2022 and this section of the rail project is due to be completed by 2035. 

The delivery of SRL from Cheltenham to Melbourne Airport is expected to support up to 24,000 jobs – including 8,000 jobs on SRL East and 5,100 jobs on SRL Airport. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre (1, 2); Victoria’s Big Build – Suburban Rail Loop (1, 2, 3); Infrastructure Magazine (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia