Hydroflux’s TunnelMAX® Success in the West Gate Tunnel Project
The West Gate Tunnel Project (WGTP) is a major road tunnel built by CPBJH JV and is a key project in Victoria’s “Big Build”. Construction of the project commenced in 2017 and is expected to be opened for public use in late 2025. The tunnel will improve travel times to and from Melbourne’s west and alleviate traffic on Melbourne’s iconic West Gate Bridge.
CPBJH JV approach Hydroflux in 2017 with a unique challenge around management of solids and water generated by tunnelling activities in extremely compact sites. To meet the challenge, Hydroflux employed the technology successfully developed for the Northconnex project in Sydney – the utilization of our proprietary TunnelMAX® process with the specially modified HUBER QPresses. The utilization of the HUBER screw press results in a significantly smaller footprint, due to it’s ability to process sludge continuously with little downtime and very high capture rates.
The modular nature of the TunnelMAX® system simplified installation in extremely tight areas.
The West Gate tunnel project consisted of 3 main tunnelling sites, with a combined total design treatment capacity of 3.5 MLD. Actual treatment volume through the plants during the peak of construction exceeded design expectation, operating at 4.5 MLD. Despite operating at almost 30% above design capacity the TunnelMAX systems were able to keep up with the demand, maintaining 100% compliant discharge for the duration of the project.
A total of 7 HUBER Q presses were installed across the sites and were able to run with an astounding zero loss time for maintenance for the duration of the project due to the robust, low wear rate of the machines. The utilization of the HUBER Qpresses saved hundreds of thousands in maintenance, downtime and water costs across the sites, compared with typical filter press or belt press operation.
With tunnelling complete, two of the three sites have been packed up for redeployment, with the third finishing it’s tour in the next 12 months.
The success of the water treatment plants provided to the West Gate Tunnel Project, alongside Northconnex has been a springboard for Hydroflux. Dozens of additional TunnelMAX® systems have been supplied since WGTP. All of these projects have achieved the same high level of success, establishing Hydroflux has the most reliable name in the treatment of construction and groundwater from major tunnelling operations.
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