Innovation is at the core of the Suburban Rail Loop East project - and has now earned CPB Contractors international recognition.
Suburban Connect has been officially acknowledged by the International Symposium on Ground Freezing (ISGF) for developing a world-first artificial ground freezing (AGF) design framework to construct tunnel cross passages on Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East. SRL East is the first project globally to be recognised by the body for this achievement.
Engineering Director Olga Mikhaylova said AGF involves installing pipes within the tunnel and circulating chilled brine (a highly concentrated saltwater solution) to temporarily freeze surrounding soil and groundwater.
"This method, which safely stabilises the ground and enables controlled excavation of cross passages, will be used on close to 30 of the 54 cross passages," she explains. "Whilst many projects implement this methodology during construction, we were the first to develop ground freezing support so early in the lifecycle - and at this scale - within a small-diameter metro tunnel," said Olga.
This acknowledgement highlights the team’s commitment to pioneering methods that raise the bar for safety, efficiency and environmental performance in tunnelling.
CPB Contractors is a member of Suburban Connect, the delivery partner for the first major package of tunnelling works for the eastern section of Suburban Rail Loop in Victoria. The project will deliver a 90km rail line linking every major train service from the Frankston Line to the Werribee Line via Melbourne Airport, better connecting Victorians to jobs, retail, education, health services and each other.
Suburban Connect has been officially acknowledged by the International Symposium on Ground Freezing (ISGF) for developing a world-first artificial ground freezing (AGF) design framework to construct tunnel cross passages on Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East. SRL East is the first project globally to be recognised by the body for this achievement.
Engineering Director Olga Mikhaylova said AGF involves installing pipes within the tunnel and circulating chilled brine (a highly concentrated saltwater solution) to temporarily freeze surrounding soil and groundwater.
"This method, which safely stabilises the ground and enables controlled excavation of cross passages, will be used on close to 30 of the 54 cross passages," she explains. "Whilst many projects implement this methodology during construction, we were the first to develop ground freezing support so early in the lifecycle - and at this scale - within a small-diameter metro tunnel," said Olga.
This acknowledgement highlights the team’s commitment to pioneering methods that raise the bar for safety, efficiency and environmental performance in tunnelling.
CPB Contractors is a member of Suburban Connect, the delivery partner for the first major package of tunnelling works for the eastern section of Suburban Rail Loop in Victoria. The project will deliver a 90km rail line linking every major train service from the Frankston Line to the Werribee Line via Melbourne Airport, better connecting Victorians to jobs, retail, education, health services and each other.