By Ashley Karen
Massive shafts tunneled across London as part of the super sewer project are being completed after years of deep underground construction.
Currently, the concrete beams are being installed at three more sites in Battersea and Wapping, which then see concrete slabs employed to cap the shafts which range in depth from 35 to 65 meters across the project.
There are 21 shafts built on the Thames Tideway Tunnel and will be used to shift sewage flows from London’s current Victorian sewage network to the new 25-kilometer tunnel.
The preliminary tunneling finished last year’s spring, and the secondary lining continues on the final stretch between Chambers Wharf and Abbey Mills. In addition, many sites are now capping shafts to signal the end of the significant underground works.
As reported, the first six massive precast concrete cover beams were installed at Tideway’s Kirtling Street site. The beams’ weights are nearly 150 tons each and were lifted into place by crane. Also, the roof is approaching completion at Heathwall Pumping Station.
Moreover, at King Edward Memorial Park in Wapping, the first shaft cover beam which weighs about 140 tons, was put into place. It officially begins the cover slab works on the east section of the super sewer project.
Many of the slabs will be utilized to form seven new areas of public space along the river, such as at Chelsea, Albert, Victoria Embankments, and Blackfriars Bridge.
