BAM brings improved connectivity for Londoners with the opening of the Silvertown Tunnel
BAM brings improved connectivity for Londoners with the opening of the Silvertown Tunnel
BAM with its JV partners Ferrovial and SK ecoplant (known as Riverlinx) have completed the Silvertown Tunnel, a landmark infrastructure project connecting Silvertown in Newham with the Greenwich Peninsula. The tunnel is expected to have a positive impact on air quality, contributing to a cleaner, greener London.
Stretching 1.4 km, the tunnel is set to ease traffic congestion, improve bus services, and bring faster and more reliable journeys to this part of London and is expected to save travellers on average up to 20 minutes at peak times.
Despite facing significant global challenges such as the Covid pandemic, inflation, and the war in Ukraine, the tunnel was delivered on schedule, taking just over five years to complete. Built with an innovative approach, the tunnel was constructed using the largest tunnel boring machine (TBM) ever employed in the UK, measuring 82 m long, 11.9 m in diameter, and weighing an impressive 1,800 tonnes.
The project that has also created hundreds of career opportunities for young people, by offering apprenticeships and the team has also welcomed several school visits inspiring young people to consider a career in engineering.
John Heffernan, BAM Project Director said:
“The Silvertown Tunnel is an incredible piece of engineering that will benefit Londoners for decades to come by reducing congestion and cutting travel times.
As part of our commitment to looking ‘beyond the build’, we’re immensely proud to have created career opportunities for hundreds of individuals, inspiring the next generation to contribute to the UK's vital infrastructure.”
Innovative Engineering Techniques
The project also utilised cutting-edge engineering solutions such as the Pressure Ring Launch (PRL), Floating Rotation (FR), ground freezing technologies for the tunnel boring machine. These innovations not only enhanced the efficiency of the construction process by driving lean, sustainable design solutions but also helped reduce costs and ensure the project remained on track despite external challenges.
