Tunnel design and constructability on the T2D project
July 23 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm ACST
Overview
Online and in person event
The T2D Project represents the final and most complex stage of South Australia’s North–South Corridor, delivering a 10.5 km section of motorway that will complete 78 km of uninterrupted, traffic light-free travel between Gawler and Old Noarlunga. Awarded in September 2024 under a collaborative Alliance model to Bouygues John Holland and design partners Arcadis and Jacobs, the project involves the concurrent operation of three tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to construct twin southern tunnels of approximately 4 km and twin northern tunnels of approximately 2.5 km.
This session will provide a practitioner-led overview of the adopted tunnel design and construction approach, with a focus on the geotechnical conditions of the Adelaide Plains and their influence on design decisions and constructability. Presenters will examine key challenges encountered during the alliance development phase, including ground conditions, groundwater management, and urban interface constraints, and how these have informed the selection of TBM configuration, lining design and construction methodologies. Attendees will gain insight into how integrated design and construction planning is being applied to manage risk, optimise performance, and support safe and efficient delivery of one of Australia’s largest road infrastructure projects.
Learning outcomes
In this presentation, you will gain insight into:
- the technical complexities of designing and constructing this major tunnel project within the Adelaide plains geological conditions
- the consideration and selection of specific designs for project elements
- what construction initiatives have been proposed to drive the successful outcomes in functionality and time of delivery.
Program
In-person
- 5.00 pm ACST: Registration and networking
- 5.30 pm ACST: Presentation begins
- 7.00 pm ACST: Presentation close and networking begins
- 7.30 pm ACST: Event close
Online
- 6.00 pm AEST: Presentation begins
- 7.30 pm AEST: Presentation closes
About the speakers
Malcolm has both Honours and Masters degrees in civil engineering from the University of Adelaide. He is a chartered engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers and a member of the Australasian Tunnelling Society. His experience includes development, bidding and delivery of a range of major infrastructure projects in Australasia, South East Asia and the Far East, including tunnel projects in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and now Adelaide.
Malcolm has worked for designers and major contractors in Australasia, the UK and Asia over a forty year period. In late 2020, he returned to Adelaide and joined the Department for Transport and Infrastructure as Director, Engineering in the North South Corridor Program Delivery Office for the River Torrens to Darlington Project. In the last five years he has been responsible for development of the Reference Design and then engineering aspects of procuring major contractors for the Project. He is now a member of the Alliance Leadership Team for the Project and is also responsible for technical oversight of project delivery.
Ruby is a Chartered Geotechnical Engineer and Chartered Geologist specialising in underground and tunnelling construction, with more than 15 years’ experience in major infrastructure projects, including large-diameter TBM works in complex ground conditions.
She currently leads geotechnical delivery for tunnelling works in T2D Project, responsible for ground risk management, TBM operations support, and ensuring alignment between design assumptions and actual ground response during construction. Her work focuses on combining engineering judgement with field experience to manage uncertainty and deliver safe, practical outcomes.
Ruby is passionate about knowledge sharing and practical innovation. She actively supports the development of engineers and promotes integrating design, construction, and operations to improve safety, constructability, and sustainability in tunnelling.
As Global Principal Anthony is responsible for growing Jacobs’ technical capabilities and helping staff and clients adopt novel solutions and new technologies. He is based in Brisbane, Australia.