HS2’s first two TBMs in London, Sushila and Caroline, have completed the first mile (1.6km) of twin bored tunnel in the capital. Since launch in November 2022, the TBMs have both installed over 847 tunnel rings each, made up of 5,929 concrete segments.
In total, the twin-bored Northolt Tunnel will be 8.4 miles (13.4km) long and is expected to be complete by 2025.
Over 240,000m3 of London Clay, chalk and sand has been extracted during the tunnelling process so far and is being used north of the tunnel to create new wildlife habitat and landscaping.
A team of 17 tunnel engineers from HS2’s Main Works Civils Contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV), has been operating each TBM.
The 58,000 tunnel segments for this section of the London tunnels are being manufactured by Pacadar on the Isle of Grain in Kent. Recently the delivery of the segments has been by rail to the sidings at the West Ruislip site, reducing lorry journeys on roads.
James Richardson, Managing Director of Skanska Costain STRABAG JV said: “Completing our first mile of tunnelling on both of our TBMs is a fantastic moment for the HS2 London tunnels programme. Early next year our next two TBMs will be launched from Victoria Road crossover box, close to Old Oak Common station. All these drives will then meet at Greenpark Way in Greenford, forming the route for the initial opening of HS2 into London.
“The HS2 London Tunnels team is undertaking some of the most complex tunnelling operations ever embarked on and this milestone has been achieved through a combined effort of all parts of the team. Shafts along the route are all now reaching completion of the civil engineering works in preparedness for the TBMs to pass underneath. We’ve also embarked on one of the largest utility projects to enable to tunnels to safely pass through this year.”
The SCS JV team are now preparing to begin the construction of cross passages between the two tunnels. The link between the two parallel tunnels will be used in emergencies.
The TBMs are due to reach the first ventilation and emergency access shaft at South Ruislip in Autumn 2023, after they have travelled a distance 1.7 miles (2.7km). The shaft is 35m deep and a ‘headhouse’ will be built above it to house safety equipment. The building will have a green roof and will be constructed using timber and brick, sympathetic to the local landscape.
The Northolt Tunnel will be completed with two additional TBMs which will be launched from the opposite end of the tunnel at Victoria Road Crossover Box in Ealing next winter. All four TBMs constructing the tunnel will end their journeys at Greenpark Way in Greenford in Ealing where they will be extracted from the ground.
Comments: