A second electrical substation, purpose-built to power the River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and future motorway operations, has been switched on today in Adelaide's west.
The Richmond East substation, capable of powering the equivalent of 5,000 homes, will be dedicated to the project, for which it will provide a unique 22,000-volt supply specifically suited to the TBMs' operating requirements.
This substation will be dedicated to powering TBM 3 – Elizabeth – and has come online after another substation was energised in Tonsley East, tasked with powering TBMs 1 and 2 – Mary and Catherine.
Once construction is complete, the substations will then power the ventilation, lighting, traffic management and safety systems for the operation of the tunnels.
The Albanese and Malinauskas Labor Governments have each committed $7.7 billion towards the T2D project, which will deliver a non-stop South Road that will reduce traffic congestion by taking around 130,000 weekday trips into tunnels.
The completed project will allow motorists to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights and up to 40 minutes of travel time in peak hour.
The two new substations have been delivered on budget and on time, with more than 100 SA Power Networks employees contributing to the task.
SA Power Networks on average builds one substation every three years.
All three TBMs will be tunnelling by the end of this year, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, each progressing about 8-10 metres per day.
As put by Joe Szakacs
It can be difficult to articulate just how large an undertaking the T2D project truly is.
These substations have been purpose-built for the construction of the tunnels and their operation once established.
These substations are each capable of powering 5,000 homes.
It's a truly mammoth effort, and I congratulate everyone at SA Power Networks for their work to construct two substations in such a short space of time.
As put by SA Power Networks COO Mark Vincent
The Richmond East substation represents an excellent example of the collaborative working relationship between SA Power Networks and the South Australian Government.
As the owner and operator of South Australia's poles and wires network, our ability to deliver this vital piece of infrastructure safely and on time demonstrates the value of being involved right from the detailed planning stage.
We are proud that the excellent work of our team is now allowing South Australia's largest ever road infrastructure project to proceed to its next crucial phase.
