Tunnelling begins on Mt Messenger

The first cut has been made by a 110-tonne road header machine that will excavate the project’s 235m tunnel-road headers have boom-mounted telescopic cutting heads, making them ideal for the diverse geological conditions that workers would encounter through the next stage of the project. A shovel plate at the front of the road header would collect the excavated rock and soil, which would then be conveyed along a belt to dump trucks at the back of the machine, it said.

The excavation work was expected to be completed later this year on a project which was last publicly estimated to cost $280m.However, that cost is expected to significantly increase due to a number of factors, including inflation, complications in construction methodology, consenting requirements and six years of delays.

The bypass aims to deliver improved safety and a more comfortable drive by avoiding the existing steep, narrow and windy route. It will include two bridges of about 125m and 30m in length, as well as the tunnel.

It is estimated it will save motorists between four and six minutes of drive time.

3:41                                                                                                     12/2/25