Gantry Crane Design for Underground TBM
Beneath Birchgrove, ADG’s temporary works and construction services have supported one of Sydney’s most significant infrastructure undertakings by providing design and advisory input to help enable the launch of the southern hemisphere’s largest tunnel boring machines beneath Sydney Harbour.
The Western Harbour Tunnel, a $7.4 billion city-shaping project, required innovative temporary works designs to maintain safety and enable efficiency during TBM assembly within a confined underground environment. ADG collaborated closely with delivery partners to provide targeted design support and independent verification, integrating design expertise with construction know-how to achieve safe, efficient outcomes.
Project Value
TBMs, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere
Erected within TBM launch chambers
Assembled underground
Steel Gantry Crane Runway Beam Design
Design of runway beams for 500-tonne and 60-tonne gantry cranes, essential infrastructure enabling the precise assembly of more than 380 TBM components within a confined underground launch chamber.
Reinforced Concrete Temporary Pavement Design
Design of approximately 400 metres of reinforced concrete temporary pavement within the tunnel, providing stability and access for construction activities.
Independent Checking Engineer (ICE) Review
ICE review of the TBM launch structure, providing assurance and strengthening confidence in this complex phase of works.
Drawing on extensive experience in temporary works and construction-phase services, ADG provided targeted design support and independent verification across critical elements of the TBM launch procedure. This included steel gantry crane runway beam design for the 500-tonne and 60-tonne cranes used to assemble TBM components, reinforced concrete temporary pavement extending around 400 metres of tunnel, and Independent Checking Engineer review of the TBM launch structure.
By integrating design expertise with construction know-how, ADG’s construction services team supported delivery partners to achieve safe, efficient outcomes.
Southern Hemisphere's Largest TBMs
ADG’s temporary works designs supported the assembly and launch of the southern hemisphere’s largest tunnel boring machines, each with a 15.7m diameter and a 462-tonne cutterhead, beneath Birchgrove, up to 50 metres below sea level.
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