04.06.14
Crossrail tunnelling four-fifths complete
Crossrail’s shortest tunnelling drive began yesterday, running from Limmo Peninsula at Canning Town station towards Victoria Dock Portal in east London.
The veteran tunnel boring machine (TBM) named Jessica is creating the 900m tunnel, which will form part of the south-east spur of Crossrail. The tunnel begins from a 35m deep access shaft alongside the mouth of the River Lea, and will run to Victoria Dock Portal, where the Crossrail tracks reach the surface at Custom House station.
The route map is here: www.crossrail.co.uk/route/maps/regional-map
Jessica completed the Pudding Mill Lane to Stepney Green tunnel over the winter, and the tunnelling is now 80% complete for the whole project.
Altogether Crossrail is creating 42km of bored tunnels using eight TBMs, four of which have already ‘retired’ after completing their journeys.
Andrew Wolstenholme, chief executive of the £14.8bn Crossrail project, said: “The end is now in sight for Crossrail’s tunnelling marathon. We wish those operating Jessica a safe and speedy journey through to Victoria Dock. While this is our shortest tunnel drive, it still forms an important part of Crossrail’s south-east spur, which will bring tremendous benefits to Docklands and south east London.”
Once Crossrail construction is complete at the Limmo Peninsula site, the historic former home of the Thames Ironworks is to be developed into a high density residential development, contributing funds to the Crossrail funding envelope.