Tunnel transformers

A joint venture between Atkins and Arup has been appointed a consultancy contract to deliver a range of design and engineering services for BMB, the joint venture between BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall and Balfour Beatty, who have been appointed by Tideway to deliver the West section of London’s new ‘super sewer’, the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Valued at £416 million, the six kilometre ‘West’ section of the 25km Thames Tideway Tunnel will run from Acton in West London to Wandsworth in South West London incorporating seven separate work sites along the route. Works will include design, construction, commissioning and maintenance following construction completion.

Upon completion, the Thames Tideway Tunnel will ensure the capital’s sewer system is fit to support its projected population for at least the next 100 years, and will tackle the issue of discharges of untreated sewage that currently enter the River Thames on a regular basis.

The new tunnel will be the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the UK water industry.

Nick Roberts, UK CEO at Atkins, said: “The Thames Tideway Tunnel will help transform the river and we are very pleased that BMB chose the valuable experience, expertise and approach we’ve developed with Arup from projects such as Crossrail. We look forward to playing our part in promoting a positive change in the relationship that Londoners and visitors have with the Thames.”