| NEWS
Breakthrough on NZ’s Mt Messenger Bypass
ITA, IAEA collaborate on deep disposal SWITZERLAND - The ITA and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have entered a strategic collaboration to support the development of geological disposal facilities (GDF) for higher activity radioactive waste across ITA member states and for the world. The collaboration builds on IAEA’s recent
work – developed with substantial support from the ITA – that resulted in a draft publication on managing the transition to accessing the underground for GDF. ITA has launched a dedicated Special
Interest Group (SIG), in co-operation with IAEA, to help industry better understand the specific requirements of GDF development.
Above: A roadheader has broken through on the Mt Messenger Bypass, in New Zealand. PHOTO CREDIT: NZTA
NEW ZEALAND - Milestone success has been achieved on the Te Ara o Te Ata – Mt Messenger Bypass, in New Zealand, with a roadheader breakthrough. The tunnel is a key feature of the future State Highway 3 route in Taranaki in the country’s North Island. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is the project developer. NZTA’s Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery, Rob Partridge, said the breakthrough was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Mt Messenger Alliance team delivering the project. The Bypass is being delivered by
the Mt Messenger Alliance of NZTA, Downer, HEB Construction, Tonkin & Taylor and WSP, in partnership with Maori tribe Ngāti Tama. The bypass is being delivered
in two stages – the Southern and Northern sections, respectively. Since construction began on the Southern section, in 2022, more than 300,000m3 of earthworks have been completed, with the southern-most 1km section now at road level. With the 6.5m-high upper
section of the tunnel now completed, excavation of the 2.5m lower section will begin. Full tunnel excavation is targeted for completion before Q2 2026. Work is also progressing on the project’s 125m-long bridge,
with a 110m-long temporary staging bridge in place to support construction of the permanent structure. Construction of the bridge’s foundations is under way. Completing the Northern section
of the project remains subject to ongoing legal challenges over the final parcel of land required. Funding and timeframes for the Northern section will be confirmed once construction is able to start in this area. Partridge said the breakthrough of the tunnel’s top section was a proud moment for everyone involved. “It is a visible sign of the
progress being made to deliver a safer and more efficient route for all road users, and to unlock long- term economic and environmental benefits for the region. “The need for a more resilient and
reliable route over Mt Messenger was underlined recently when heavy rain created an underslip that caused delays for road users for more than three months.” He added: “This achievement
marks a major step forward for the Southern section of the Bypass, which will replace the steep, narrow and winding stretch of SH3 over Mt Messenger with a safer, more resilient, and reliable 6km two-lane highway.”
Melbourne NEL milestone for TBM bores AUSTRALIA - The TBMs building Melbourne’s North East Link (NEL) tunnel passed the halfway mark of excavations in mid-October. TBMs ‘Gillian’ and TBM ‘Zelda’ have excavated nearly 60% of the 6.5km- long, three-lane twin tunnels on the NEL project - which are Victoria state’s longest twin road tunnels. The 15.6m-diameter machines were
launched in Watsonia in 2024 and each TBM has excavated more than 3km, installing more than 25,000 segments. The drives will finish at the site of the future Manningham interchange. NEL is expected to take 15,000 trucks daily off local roads. The first permanent section of the new
Bulleen Road interchange is now open on the Eastern Freeway. Significant work is under way at the Manningham interchange to prepare for the arrival of the TBMs.
First CRCHI TBMs for S Korea cable tunnel SOUTH KOREA - Two slurry TBMs have been manufactured by China Railway Construction Heavy Industries Corporation Limited (CRCHI) for South Korea’s Gyeonggi power cable project. The power grid project is to support strengthening of the network to help meet the growing demand for electricity in the metropolitan area of the capital, Seoul. The tunnel alignment will traverse high-
strength hard rock formations, fault zones and weathered rock areas. The engineering challenges also include
long tunnelling distances, high rock strength, high water pressure, and small turning radius. In total, CRCHI is to supply six TBMs, making it the largest equipment supplier for the Gyeonggi power cable project.
January 2026 | 9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45
