TUS goes below and beyond for North East Link

Total Underground Solutions (TUS) crews recently completed a major power infrastructure installation adjacent to Ruthven Station, which is part of the North East Link Project.

The works were initially planned for the installation of under-rail bore shots, however, the scope expanded considerably, with crews successfully installing about 75m of trenching and dual 65m horizontal directional drill (HDD) bores beneath active rail lines while also maintaining live train operations throughout the works.

The project forms a critical component of the future 22kV backup power supply network for the North East Link tunnels, while also enabling the diversion of existing electrical infrastructure required for the Ruthven Level Crossing Removal Project.

TUS’s HDD team and Trafman Solutions’ Traffic Management and NDD crews operated around the clock in 12-hour shifts from Thursday through to Monday, supported by multiple TUS civil crews working across the site.

The project highlighted the value of detailed planning, strong stakeholder collaboration and the dedication of crews working safely and efficiently within a complex rail and road environment.

The feedback from retailers and the local community was positive, with one resident who contacted TUS to thank them for looking after her dog Mo, which escaped her backyard but was taken care of by the team on site she could collect him.

Successfully completing dual under-rail bores beneath live rail operations while delivering associated trenching and reinstatement works was a significant accomplishment for all parties involved.

Delivery would not have been possible without the coordination and planning between multiple stakeholders, including TUS, Zinfra, Banyule Council, John Holland, North East Link Program (NELP), Ruthven Level Crossing Removal Project (Ruthven LXRP), VIDA Roads and Winslow Group Services SMS, Lines & Signs, Trafman NDD and Traffic Management, and OptHire.