The breakthrough means Cross River Rail's future Woolloongabba and Roma Street stations, key to securing the 2032 Olympics, are now connected by a tunnel that runs beneath the Brisbane River and CBD. Having a tunnel stretch more than 2.5km from the future Woolloongabba station all the way to Roma Street is a tangible reminder of just how transformational this project will be for Queenslanders travelling to, from and through Brisbane in the future.

The very same section of tunnel that the 1,350t TBM, named in honour of Queensland women and trailblazing engineer Else Shepherd, has just finished excavating will be used in the future to take sports fans between athletics and swimming events during the Games.

More than 2900 people are currently working on the project, including more than 370 directly involved in building Cross River Rail's twin tunnels.