London & South East

Tunnelling east with Crossrail

Crossrail Running Tunnels EastCrossrail Limited will begin the East Running Tunnels phase of its Crossrail project in the third quarter of 2012.

The operation is divided into three sections: Limmo Peninsular to Farringdon east (Drive Y), Pudding Mill Lane to Stepney Green (Drive Z) and Limmo Peninsular to Victoria Dock (Drive G).

The first tunnel to be constructed will be the Limmo Peninsular to Farringdon section, which at 8.3km will be the longest tunnel drive for Crossrail. Two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) will be launched from the shaft at Limmo Peninsular and the TBMs will then move towards Farringdon east, through Canary Wharf, Whitechapel and Liverpool Street stations.

This section is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2014. Following this, the final sprayed concrete lining works at Whitechapel and Liverpool Street station will be implemented.

The next stage will see the boring of a 2.7km tunnel from Pudding Mill Lane to Stepney Green (Drive Z). TBM will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2013 and once the two TBMs from Drive Y pass Stepney Green, a separate pair of TBMs will move from Pudding Mill Lane Portal towards Stepney Green. This section is due to be completed during the third quarter of 2014.

During the second quarter of 2014, TBM will launch at Limmo Peninsula to Victoria Dock. This section is expected to reach completion in the third quarter of 2014 and underground structures and station tunnels will be built prior to TBMs passing through locations.

Rail Minister, Theresa Villiers, said: “We have taken an important step forward in one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure projects. These tunnels will help boost rail capacity across London by 10 per cent, relieving overcrowding on the other hard-pressed services.

She added: “Crossrail is a critical project for this country which has the potential to generate up to £50bn in wider economic benefits for UK GDP and will allow the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.”

Joint contractors for the project are Dragados S.A and John Sisk & Sons (Holdings) Ltd.

Dew Piling Ltd

 For over 70 years Dew Piling Ltd has specialised in steel sheet piling for use on temporary and permanent structures, creating retaining walls, cofferdams and access shafts. Over its operational life Dew Piling has worked with a number of high profile companies within the construction industry, including Morgan Sindall Group Plc, Balfour Beatty Plc, Costain, BAM Nuttall and Carillion Plc.

On the Crossrail Rail Running Tunnels East project, Dew Piling Ltd installed a circular sheet pile cofferdam for an auxiliary shaft. This consisted of driving 18 meter long 152 PU28-1 sheet piles into the ground. Dew Piling Ltd will also be involved with additional sites across the Crossrail project.

Dew Piling Ltd General Manager, John Storry, said:

“We’re a small yet experienced team that specialises in the sheet pile industry. We’re dedicated to what we do and between us we provide an expert service from design right through to installation.”

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Roma Publications