WSP’s Australian tunnelling experience covers a wide array of tunnels in conditions ranging from soft ground, mixed-face and hard-rock conditions to cut and cover tunnels and immersed tube structures. From program management to design to construction management, we serve our tunnelling clients in the transportation, water, utilities, mining, power, and energy sectors.
Our designs have resulted in record-setting advances with Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) and we have employed innovations to reduce overall project cost, such as the development of fibre-reinforced concrete segmental liners for these drives. We have also addressed many of today’s most pressing concerns, including in the areas of geotechnical engineering, seismic design, digital technology, tunnel support design, tunnel ventilation and fire life safety, security and blast design, constructability, risk analysis and management, environmental planning, and stakeholder communication. We have also made strides in keeping infrastructure up-to-date, having inspected and rehabilitated numerous tunnels while also keeping the facilities operational.
Metros and rail tunnels
In Australia, WSP has extensive experience in the planning, delivery and upgrading of Metro and Rail Tunnels across the country, while at the same time helping our clients understand, manage and mitigate their risks. Recently this includes having significant involvement in the development of city and nation shaping projects such as Melbourne Metro, Sydney Metro, Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop and Inland Rail. This experience has included the development of concept, reference, and detailed designs, providing construction phase services over a large range of engineering disciplines, as well as upgrading fire life safety systems of existing operational assets.
Road tunnels
Threading tunnels under busy city streets or boring through mountainous terrain, WSP has a long history of engineering road and highway tunnels. We are experienced in designing for and managing a variety of construction techniques including conventional and cut and cover excavation methods, as well as specialised excavation techniques, such as the sequential excavation, box jacking and immersed tube methods. Recent highway tunnel experience in Australia includes delivery phase roles on the Clem7 and Airport Link tunnels in Brisbane, the WestConnex, M6 and Western Harbour Crossing tunnels in Sydney and the North East Link and Westgate tunnels in Melbourne.
Water tunnels
With cities around the world eager to clean up their waterways and secure the water supply needed for prosperity and growth, WSP has responded with appropriate engineering solutions. We design and manage construction of water-supply tunnels, storm, sanitary and combined sewers, as well as offshore outfalls, desalination plant sea intakes and diffusers. WSP’s strengths include ground improvement to protect surrounding structures, temporary works designs for shafts and Micro Tunnel Boring Machine (MTBM) launch chambers, as well as the permanent works associated with these water and wastewater assets.
Utility tunnels
WSP has a proven track record in both the design, project management, and construction management of high voltage electrical cable tunnels and telecoms, gas transmission tunnels and pipelines systems. Our experience includes geotechnical investigations and assessment, ground improvement, and tunnel design including seismic assessments to assess resiliency and the ability to quickly recover after a major earthquake event.
Mine access
Mine access tunnels and shafts are essential assets which ensure safe, efficient, and trafficable access to the host rock and ore body to facilitate production. Accesses often traverse challenging geological and hydrogeological conditions requiring an alternative approach to typical mining development. WSP commitment to link advanced engineering and scientific theory with practical know-how is fundamental to our mine access work. Leveraging off our extensive mining practice in Australia, we provide design advice and construction phase services for conventionally and TBM excavated audits and declines, as well as main, service and ventilation shafts excavated by drill and blast, raise bore and mechanical methods.
Hydroelectric developments
WSP has extensive experience in tunnels, shafts and caverns for hydropower and pumped hydro. The underground works for such projects usually require complex geometries, connections, and three-dimensional space proofing to serve the multi-purpose requirements for hydropower tunnels which may convey water, high-voltage electrical cables, machinery or the safe working environments for operating staff. Our experience includes project management, design, and technical advisory services across all stages of a project lifecycle, from concept design, through to construction and operational stages.
