The Snowy 2.0 Hydro-Electric Project, located in the remote Snowy Mountains National Park of New South Wales, Australia, saw major interruptions beginning in 2019. Wildfires halted above-ground work and, shortly after, pandemic restrictions further challenged progress. Despite these obstacles, by 2021 on-site operations accelerated, including the assembly and delivery of multiple tunnel boring machines (TBMs).
The site is located at Lobs Hole, a secluded gully accessible only by narrow mountain roads originally carved for mining and later repurposed for construction more than 70 years ago. Due to environmental regulations, the roads could undergo only minimal upgrades. As a result, large heavy-haul components could only be transported using Self Propelled Modular Trailers (SPMTs) featuring individual steering axles and hydraulic suspension, enabling precise navigation on steep, uneven terrain.
The largest transport to date was the 175-ton, 7-meter wide Main Drive for TBM #1. The 20-meter long, 12-axle SPMT negotiated tight corners and grades reaching 17.5%, secured with 24 chains to prevent load shifting. A custom load beam was engineered to provide clearance over roadside obstacles during the 16 km haul down Ravine Road. Once delivered, the Main Drive was staged for full TBM assembly, ultimately contributing to a multi-year international infrastructure effort.
