All five underground Metro Tunnel stations are now complete.
It means the Allan Labor Government has officially finished major construction on the most complex rail infrastructure project in Victoria's history.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams marked the milestone at the brand-new State Library Station before it opens later this year.
The station will give commuters direct access to State Library, RMIT University and the Queen Victoria Market. It links straight to trams and is connected to Melbourne Central via a new underground concourse - so you can transfer without tapping off.
This is the deepest and most complex station ever built beneath the Melbourne CBD.
It sits 42 metres below Swanston Street and is deeper than the height of Marvel Stadium.
The grand main entrance at La Trobe and Swanston streets is framed by 12 massive columns topped with 70-tonne, 18-metre beams lifted into place by a 400-tonne crane. A second entrance opens onto Franklin Street outside RMIT.
The entrance also features Forever, a major artwork by Australian artist Danie Mellor - honouring the cultural, social and family contributions of Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung women, with portraits and landscapes drawn from the State Library's archives.
Crews used precision keyhole construction, lowering materials and machinery through shafts while keeping one of Australia's busiest streets moving above. Other key facts include:
- The station's platforms are 18 metres wide, 220 metres long and 36 metres below street level. The platforms are among the widest underground metro platforms in the world
- It includes 27 escalators (including two new escalators at Melbourne Central) and 19 lifts (10 front of house)
- The longest escalator at State Library is 42 metres long and is now the longest escalator in Melbourne. It is 12 metres longer than the escalators at Parliament Station.
The Metro Tunnel is the biggest transformation of Melbourne's rail network in more than 40 years and will free up capacity in the City Loop to run more trains more often across more lines.
All five Metro Tunnel stations are now done and dusted: Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac.
Never forget, the Liberals called the Metro Tunnel a "hoax", said it was going to be an "an absolute disaster" and refused to fund it while in office.
Labor funded it, Labor built it. Labor will open it later this year.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"This is the second new CBD train station in 40 years - and the first since yesterday."
"Transferring between State Library and Melbourne Central is one small step for a commuter and one giant leap for Victoria."
"The end of major construction means the start of a new era for Melbourne, where you can get to uni, work and retail faster and easier."
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams
"The Liberals called it a hoax, but today State Library Station stands finished alongside Town Hall, Arden, Anzac and Parkville - five brand new stations ready for passengers later this year."
