Milan, 31 March 2025 – The first tunnelling phase for the two giant TBMs excavating the North East Link (NEL) has been successfully completed. The twin tunnels will improve Melbourne’s transport network, mitigating congestion and enhancing connectivity. The Webuild Group, as part of the SPARK joint venture, is engaged in the design and construction of approximately 6.5 km of twin three-lane tunnels and related works.

In Melbourne’s northeast, the massive Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM), Gillian and Zelda, have reached Lower Plenty Road after excavating 1.6 km, marking a major milestone for the North East Link project. Both TBMs will undergo maintenance and mechanical inspections in the coming weeks before resuming their journey towards Bulleen. With a cutterhead diameter of 15.6 meters—among the largest in the world—and a length of over 90 meters, these TBMs weigh over 4,000 tons each and embody the highest technological standards in the industry.

The NEL is the largest road project ever undertaken in the state of Victoria and once completed, will feature the longest road tunnels in the state. Upon completion, the 6.5km North East Link tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen will fix the missing link in the Melbourne’s freeway network, take 15,000 trucks off local roads a day and reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes. Its construction will create thousands of jobs, driving economic growth and development across the entire supply chain.

The Webuild Group is delivering some of Australia’s most strategic infrastructure projects, supported by the strong presence of its subsidiary, Clough. Current projects include Snowy 2.0, Australia’s largest hydroelectric scheme; a section of the Suburban Rail Loop East to improve Melbourne’s transport network; and part of the Sydney Metro–Western Sydney Airport Project, connecting the new airport to the city. Additionally, Webuild is working on the Perdaman Industries Urea Plant, one of the world’s largest urea production facilities, and the Woodman Point Water Treatment Facility, an expansion of Australia’s largest wastewater treatment plant.