Sydney Metro West is coming to life – with tunnel boring now 90 per cent complete
In good news, there was tangible progress to celebrate earlier this week, with tunnel boring for the project now 90 per cent complete, and plans for the huge new metro station in the heart of "Sydney's second CBD" are taking shape.
After 17 months of grinding through solid rock, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) Dorothy – named after human rights advocate Dorothy Buckland-Fuller – finally broke through at Parramatta. You might recall her journey hit a snag recently, with a six-week delay caused by concerns over the depth of foundations at a nearby Telstra building. Meanwhile, TBM Betty – named after Australia's Olympic sprinting legend Betty Cuthbert – has already started her final leg to Westmead, having left Parramatta in mid-July. Operating 24/7, both machines have excavated an incredible 1.25 million tonnes of sandstone over seven kilometres between Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta.
Parramatta's metro station site has been taking shape through a 'cut-and-cover' construction method – which involves digging a gigantic hole and building over the top of it later. This massive hole, measuring 196 metres long and 25 metres wide, has required extensive support beams due to the clay-rich soil near the Parramatta River. Yes, it's quite different to the underground cavern excavation under the city streets for stations like Pyrmont and the CBD.
Located just north of the existing train station and within walking distance to the Light Rail, Eat Street, and the proposed Powerhouse Parramatta, the new metro station will reshape the heart of Parramatta. Beyond improved transport, the broader precinct will include new homes, offices, retail, dining, and entertainment offerings – something that this growing cultural and commercial hub needs.
The Sydney Metro West line is expected to open to passengers in 2032.
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