The transformation of the physical face of East London in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games continued this week as a milestone in the project to underground the powerlines in the Olympic Park site was reached on target.
Tunnelling work took a significant step forward with a scheduled breakthrough in one of the 2 tunnels being built.
The Tunnel Boring Machine (named 'Fionnuala') broke through into the deep shaft at Quartermile Lane exactly on schedule. The breakthrough means that tunnelling is on track and the halfway point in the first tunnel has now been passed.
ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said:
"Placing the powerlines underground is a vital part of the long term regeneration of East London and this successful breakthrough is a significant moment. It shows that the work to underground the powerlines is on track.
"There is still a lot of work to come, but we are now over a third of the way towards completing the tunnelling distance needed. The project is scheduled for completion in 2009 when power will be switched from overhead to the underground supply."
The powerlines which currently overshadow the Olympic Park area in the Lower Lea Valley are to be placed in two tunnels underground, with 52 electricity pylons demolished along the six kilometre route from Hackney to West Ham enabling construction on site.
Over 350 people are currently working on the site with four tunnelling machines working 25m below ground.
Work taking place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on what is the largest tunnel project in the country. 250,000 cubic metres of spoil will be produced by the tunnelling, which will be then be re-used to construct the Olympic Park.
4.6km of tunnelling out of a combined total distance of 13km has now been completed.
Notes to editors:
1. When the tunnelling is complete, 200km of cables will be installed by EDF Energy and National Grid working with the Olympic Delivery Authority.
2. A temporary overhead diversion will also be constructed in 2007 to allow the Athletes Village construction to start a year earlier than originally planned.
The contract for the design and construction of the temporary powerlines diversion was awarded in September 2006 to National Grid. These works will ensure that the commencement of construction for the Olympic Village is not hindered by the existing powerlines.
Preparation works are now underway and the construction is scheduled to start in Spring 2007, with the temporary powerlines scheduled to be operational in Autumn 2007. The contract for powerlines diversion is worth £4 million.
3. The two tunnels (each 6km long with an additional 1km spur tunnel) are between 3m to 4.5m in diameter, both requiring sophisticated ventilation, and lined with 11,000 concrete rings fitted with gaskets to ensure they are watertight.
4. The underground powerlines will connect Hackney and West Ham substation, part of the grid that supplies London from Holloway in the North, The City in the West and Docklands in the South. They will travel west of the Stratford City development site and beneath Hackney Marshes.
5. The overall project budget for undergrounding of powerlines is around £230m funded by Government for the long-term regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley. The project is being delivered in collaboration with the London Development Agency, the Olympic Delivery Authority, EDF Energy and National Grid.
6. The work being undertaken will help manage the future electrical supply requirements of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and, in legacy, East London.
7. Stills and footage of the breakthrough tunnelling are available from Tim Daniels on 0203 2012 726.
Media Enquiries
Contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on 020 3 2012 700
The Tunnel Boring Machine (named 'Fionnuala') broke through into the deep shaft at Quartermile Lane exactly on schedule. The breakthrough means that tunnelling is on track and the halfway point in the first tunnel has now been passed.
ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said:
"Placing the powerlines underground is a vital part of the long term regeneration of East London and this successful breakthrough is a significant moment. It shows that the work to underground the powerlines is on track.
"There is still a lot of work to come, but we are now over a third of the way towards completing the tunnelling distance needed. The project is scheduled for completion in 2009 when power will be switched from overhead to the underground supply."
The powerlines which currently overshadow the Olympic Park area in the Lower Lea Valley are to be placed in two tunnels underground, with 52 electricity pylons demolished along the six kilometre route from Hackney to West Ham enabling construction on site.
Over 350 people are currently working on the site with four tunnelling machines working 25m below ground.
Work taking place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on what is the largest tunnel project in the country. 250,000 cubic metres of spoil will be produced by the tunnelling, which will be then be re-used to construct the Olympic Park.
4.6km of tunnelling out of a combined total distance of 13km has now been completed.
Notes to editors:
1. When the tunnelling is complete, 200km of cables will be installed by EDF Energy and National Grid working with the Olympic Delivery Authority.
2. A temporary overhead diversion will also be constructed in 2007 to allow the Athletes Village construction to start a year earlier than originally planned.
The contract for the design and construction of the temporary powerlines diversion was awarded in September 2006 to National Grid. These works will ensure that the commencement of construction for the Olympic Village is not hindered by the existing powerlines.
Preparation works are now underway and the construction is scheduled to start in Spring 2007, with the temporary powerlines scheduled to be operational in Autumn 2007. The contract for powerlines diversion is worth £4 million.
3. The two tunnels (each 6km long with an additional 1km spur tunnel) are between 3m to 4.5m in diameter, both requiring sophisticated ventilation, and lined with 11,000 concrete rings fitted with gaskets to ensure they are watertight.
4. The underground powerlines will connect Hackney and West Ham substation, part of the grid that supplies London from Holloway in the North, The City in the West and Docklands in the South. They will travel west of the Stratford City development site and beneath Hackney Marshes.
5. The overall project budget for undergrounding of powerlines is around £230m funded by Government for the long-term regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley. The project is being delivered in collaboration with the London Development Agency, the Olympic Delivery Authority, EDF Energy and National Grid.
6. The work being undertaken will help manage the future electrical supply requirements of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and, in legacy, East London.
7. Stills and footage of the breakthrough tunnelling are available from Tim Daniels on 0203 2012 726.
Media Enquiries
Contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on 020 3 2012 700
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