The big project to rehabilitate the Hobsons Bay Main Sewer under the Yarra is gearing up and although major bike routes are in proximity, impacts on riders will be limited.
The sewer, which carries 30 per cent of Melbourne’s wastewater, goes under the Yarra between Spotswood and Port Melbourne.
The busy Hyde Street/Douglas Parade bike lanes and adjacent Bay Trail West are close to the construction site in Spotswood, and some construction vehicles can be expected on Hyde Street.
Construction on the east side of the Yarra, although close to paths in Westgate Park, will not impact on bike routes.
Riders on Hyde Street, and in Spotswood around Scienceworks and the Grazeland food attraction need to be alert.
Both attractions will remain open although there will be limited construction truck traffic in a short section of Booker Street at this stage of the works.
Major works are now underway, including:
- Diaphragm wall piling works and excavation to construct four 35m deep shafts
- Tunnelling works under the Yarra River with a tunnel boring machine
- Treatment and removal of spoil from site.
To rehabilitate the existing sewer, Melbourne Water is building a duplicate sewer which will allow sewage flows to be diverted during later rehabilitation works on the old sewer.
Works underway from early December will continue until late-2024.
Construction hours during piling and shaft excavation works will be 24 hours Monday to Fridays and 6am to 6pm Saturdays.
Tunnelling is expected to get underway around the middle of next year.