Tunnelling ready to begin on Thames Tideway

Tunnelling is ready to begin on the multi billion engineering project to improve London’s sewerage system.

The first two tunnel boring machines are in place and ready to be lowered, marking the start on Thames Tideway, of one of the largest schemes of its kind in Europe.

Minister for London Jo Johnson visited the site as engineering teams got ready to start tunnelling work on the £4.2Bn sewage system. He said: “London is a thriving international city, and people will always want to move here. We must ensure that opportunities for housing and work are there – and that Londoners are offered the best possible quality of life.

“The Thames Tideway Tunnel is an incredible feat of engineering and a big part of this ambition. It will help guarantee that the groundwork is in place to support our great city for the decades to come.”

The tunnel is the biggest ever investment in the capital’s sewerage system, and is set to deliver billions of pounds worth of benefits to London by modernising the century old system. It will start at Acton Storm Tanks in West London, and end at Abbey Mills Pumping Station in East London, with the tunnel due to be completed in 2023. The Thames will also benefit from better water quality with the new systems dramatically reducing the amount of sewage overflowing into the river, allowing its biodiversity to flourish.

Mark Sneesby, Tideway’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “The lowering of our first two tunnel boring machines will mark a significant milestone for the construction of Thames Tideway Tunnel, ahead of tunnelling later this year. When complete the tunnel will prevent tens of millions of tonnes of untreated sewage entering London’s iconic River Thames every year.”

Read how the project is benefiting from using a digital strategy, here.

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