Tunnelling on Cross River Rail commences

Tunnelling on Cross River Rail started on 14 May 2020 with the project’s first roadheader commencing work at Roma Street.

Tunnelling using roadheaders heading south from Woolloongabba to Boggo Road and for the station cavern at Albert Street will commence later this year.

Arrival and assembly of the roadheader

Roma Street Roadheader fast facts

  • The roadheader is 22 metres long end to end and weighs 115 tonnes.
  • The roadheaders cabs were manufactured by Queensland family-owned company QMW.
  • The machine arrived at the site in five pieces which were lowered into the shaft using a gantry crane. and then assembled at the bottom of the shaft.
  • Roma Street station cavern will be approximately 27 metres below ground and 280 metres long
  • The roadheader will also be used to excavate parts of the Roma Street service tunnels
  • The access shaft is 12 metres wide x 16 metres long x 18 metres deep
  • The gantry crane weighs 50 tonnes and is 24 metres long
  • A second roadheader will begin work at Roma Street later this year.