Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 16TH - 22ND NOVEMBER 2018 | 23 Operations & Assets "This is an enormous undertaking, on a scale not seen in Europe before, and which rightly earns its name as the "super-sewer". It will intercept vast volumes of storm sewage and will form a strategic artery enhancing the operation of London's sewer network and the quality of the River Thames for generations to come." Gareth Thomas, engineering manager, central delivery team, Tideway Tideway says it is on target and has now offered more than 100 apprenticeship oppor- tunities on the project. These range from civil engineering to construction, boat-mas- ters, business administration and digital engineering. Building underground in London The route of the tunnel generally follows the route of the River Thames, passing under 67 bridges and 45 tunnels, which include tube lines and power networks. At Nine Elms in Battersea, construction is happening near Battersea Power Station, the Northern Line Extension and several residential and com- mercial developments. Designing the tunnel and ongoing con- struction requires Tideway to work with com- panies including Thames Water, UK Power Networks, Transport for London and other organisations that keep London running. As well as navigating the utilities and services that run under the city, the project has also had to consider London's varying ground conditions. Tideway is tunnelling through a range of materials including the Lambeth system – which consists of gravels and chalk – London clay in west London and chalk in east London. Tideway's tunnel boring machines have been built to take into account the different ground conditions, with slurry machines being used in the east section and Earth Pressure Balance machines in the central and west sections. Being a good neighbour Building in the centre of London means Tideway's sites are oen close to people. T he company has built noise- containing enclosures over the main drive site shas in Fulham and Battersea, and one is under construction at the main drive site in Bermondsey. These will help minimise the amount of noise when tunnelling starts and when spoil from the tunnel is being transferred on to barges to be taken away. Tideway has also worked with its contractors to develop innovations such as an electric hydrofraise machine, developed by the team build- ing the east section of the tunnel, which the company says is more environmentally friendly and quieter. The company holds regular meetings and drop-in sessions for members of the com- munity near its sites and has involved local artists and residents in the design of the hoardings around the sites. Keeping everyone working on the project safe, healthy and happy is a fundamental Utility Week features editor Lois Vallely and news editor Katey Pigden spent the day on the River Thames tracking Tideway developments continued overleaf Who's who? Construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel has been divided into three sections – East, West and Central – with each section being built by a different joint-venture. The construction in the west region is being delivered by a joint venture of BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall and Balfour Beatty Group. This contract is known as Tideway West, with work taking place from Acton to Fulham. The construction in the central region is being delivered by a joint venture of Ferrovial Agroman UK and Laing O'Rourke Const ruction. This contract is known as Tideway Central, with work taking place from Fulham to Blackfriars. The construction site in the east region is being delivered by a joint venture of Costain, Vinci Construction Grands Projets and Bachy Soletanche. This contract is known as Tideway East, with work taking place from Bermondsey to Stratford. TIDEWAY TIMELINE

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