Tunneling Contract Underneath Central London Awarded

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Nearly 21 km of twin-bore tunnel will be constructed underneath central London for Crossrail.

UK transport body Crossrail has awarded four tunneling contracts worth a total of £ 1,2 billion (€ 1,5 billion), marking the first step in what is said to be the largest infrastructure project in Europe.

Nearly 21 km of twin-bore tunnel will be constructed underneath central London for Crossrail, which is owned by Transport for London, the  government body responsible for the capital’s transport system.

Tunnelling activity will start in late 2011 with the first of seven tunnel boring machines (TBM) starting work in spring 2012.

The initial “Western running tunnels” contract was awarded to a joint venture comprising BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman (UK) and Kier Construction. This project is planned to link Royal Oak tube station in west London to Farringdon, near the centre, with 6,2 km of tunnel.

BAM, Ferrovial and Kier also won a contract for early access shafts and sprayed concrete lining works along the tunnel linking Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road stations.

Later in 2012, two further TBMs will head from the Docklands in East London to the city Centre, with further, shorter, tunnel drives planned in the Royal Docks and east London.

These “Eastern Running Tunnels” contracts consist of an 8,3 km tunnel running from Limmo Peninsula to Farringdon, a 1 km tunnel from Limmo Peninsula to Victoria Dock and a 2,7 km tunnel linking Stepney Green to Pudding Mill Lane. A joint venture comprising Dragados and John Sisk & Son won this contract. (KHL)

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