A US $2.4bn tunnelling package on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East public transport project in Melbourne, Australia has been awarded to a consortium of three contractors. The consortium comprises Cimic Group subsidiary CPB Contractors, Acciona and Ghella.

The contractors are responsible for tunnelling on a 16km section of the line’s 26km twin tunnels as part of the Suburban Connect consortium.

The confirmation that the firms had won the contract came after they were named preferred bidders in September.

“CPB Contractors is an industry leader in the delivery of complex construction and brings decades of experience to this first major package of SRL East, providing critical transport connections for the city. We are pleased to be selected by the Victorian Government to construct this valuable piece of infrastructure, improving the lives of people across east and south east Melbourne,” said Juan Santamaría, CEO of Cimic Group’s parent company Hochtief.

According to a report, the contractors will also build two new station boxes for the line, with major tunnelling works expected to begin in 2026.