South Australia's largest ever infrastructure project has hit a critical milestone, with the official blessing of the first of three large-scale tunnel boring machines (TBMs) specially designed to deliver a non-stop South Road (in southwest Adelaide).
In another key step for the $15.4 billion project jointly funded by the Albanese and Malinauskas Labor Governments, each of the three TBMs will be named after a trailblazing South Australian suffragist.
Mary Lee, Catherine Helen Spence and Elizabeth Webb Nicholls were three of the prominent voices leading the campaign that saw South Australia become the first place in the world to allow women to both vote and stand for election.
Having now been blessed and named 'Mary', the first TBM is now officially commissioned and ready to begin the immense task of carving out a 4.5 kilometre tunnel north from its Clovelly Park launch box towards Anzac Highway.
It can now be revealed that the second TBM 'Catherine', and third 'Elizabeth' will all be in action by the end of this year.
Names for the TBMs were selected following an overwhelming community response to a request for submissions. More than 2,000 were received, many of which nominated women whose advocacy helped cement South Australia's place as a global leader in women's rights.
Fittingly, more than a century after Mary Lee and Catherine Helen Spence worked side-by-side to help break new ground in South Australia's growing suffrage movement, the TBMs named in their honour will now work side-by-side to construct the southern tunnels.
Just like the custom of giving ships female names, TBMs are also named after women as a sign of good luck.
The tradition dates to the 1500s, when workers prayed to St Barbara, the patron saint of miners and tunnellers, for protection underground.
Continuing a longstanding custom observed on tunnelling projects around the world, Mary's blessing was performed by a Catholic Archbishop, in this case the Archbishop of Adelaide Patrick O'Regan.
Tunnelling for the entire project will take up to 24 months.
All three TBMs will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, progressing approximately 8-10 metres per day.
Quotes attributable to Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas:
"For decades, completing a non-stop South Road has been talked about.
"I'm proud to lead a government that is getting on with the job of delivering it - and today is a significant milestone ahead of tunnelling beginning just a few weeks from now.
"The non-stop South Road project will allow motorists to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington, saving up to 40 minutes of travel time in peak hour traffic.
"Mary Lee, Catherine Helen Spence and Elizabeth Webb Nicholls were pioneering suffragists whose advocacy helped position South Australia as a world leader in reform and representation, and it's only fitting their names will now help lead one of the most significant infrastructure projects in our state's history.
"The impact of these trailblazing women extends far beyond the history books; it helped drive real lasting change in South Australia and it's only fitting their legacy will now be honoured through a project helping shape the state for future generations."
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
"The naming of the three large-scale TBMs in honour of three trailblazing South Australian suffragists is fitting for this historic undertaking - the first road project in Australia to operate three large-scale TBMs at the same time.
"This demonstrates exactly what can be achieved when the Australian and South Australian governments work in partnership to drive real progress, support thousands of local jobs and boost productivity across southwest Adelaide."
Quotes attributable to SA Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Joe Szakacs:
"It's fitting the machines helping shape our transport future beneath South Road now carry the names of women who shaped our state and helped carve a path for generations of South Australians.
"Mary Lee, Catherine Helen Spence and Elizabeth Webb Nicholls were trailblazing South Australians who fought tirelessly for women's rights, and it is fitting that the Tunnel Boring Machines helping shape our state's future will bear their names.
"More than 2,000 submissions were received from South Australians eager to help leave their mark on the Project, with overwhelming support shown for trailblazing women whose courage and advocacy helped build the South Australia we know and love today.
"Today's announcement of the TBM names and blessing of the first TBM is an exciting milestone for the T2D Project, as final preparations continue before tunnelling starts in the coming months."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Boothby Louise Miller-Frost:
"Naming these three massive TBMs - Mary, Catherine, and Elizabeth - is a wonderful way to bring the community along on this historic journey.
"Following the proud global tunnelling tradition of naming machines after inspiring women for good luck, these three colossal machines will pave the way for a faster, safer, and completely traffic light-free Adelaide."
