Thames Tideway Tunnel
Location: East Section
Client: Costain, Vinci Grand Projets & Bachy Soletanche (CVB JV)
Location: East Section
Client: Costain, Vinci Grand Projets & Bachy Soletanche (CVB JV)
CapabilitiesCapabilities
- Infrastructure
- Substructure
- Geotechnics
- Structural Engineering
- Temporary Works
- Infrastructure
- Substructure
- Geotechnics
- Structural Engineering
- Temporary Works
SummarySummary
The Thames Tideway Tunnel project is an upgrade to London’s 150-year-old sewage system; constructing a new 25km tunnel from West to East London. Wentworth has been involved in the East Section of the project from early doors, undertaking complex geotechnical and temporary works designs, as well as assessing existing Thames Water structures and underground assets.
“Wentworth engineers have provided continuous support to the Costain Vinci Bachy JV design and construction teams, throughout all stages of the project’s development. Their rigorous design processes and commitment to high standards has significantly contributed towards the project’s success.”
Alexandre Chaizemartin
Design and Engineering Manager, CVB JV
Thames Tideway
“Wentworth engineers have provided continuous support to the Costain Vinci Bachy JV design and construction teams, throughout all stages of the project’s development. Their rigorous design processes and commitment to high standards has significantly contributed towards the project’s success.”
Alexandre Chaizemartin
Design and Engineering Manager, CVB JV
Thames Tideway
The Thames Tideway Tunnel project is an upgrade to London’s 150-year-old sewage system; constructing a new 25km tunnel from West to East London. Wentworth has been involved in the East Section of the project from early doors, undertaking complex geotechnical and temporary works designs, as well as assessing existing Thames Water structures and underground assets.
“Wentworth engineers have provided continuous support to the Costain Vinci Bachy JV design and construction teams, throughout all stages of the project’s development. Their rigorous design processes and commitment to high standards has significantly contributed towards the project’s success.”
Alexandre Chaizemartin
Design and Engineering Manager, CVB JV
Thames Tideway
“Wentworth engineers have provided continuous support to the Costain Vinci Bachy JV design and construction teams, throughout all stages of the project’s development. Their rigorous design processes and commitment to high standards has significantly contributed towards the project’s success.”
Alexandre Chaizemartin
Design and Engineering Manager, CVB JV
Thames Tideway
Delivering valueDelivering value
- At Abbey Mills Pumping Station, Wentworth developed a 3D FE geotechnical model to assess adverse effects on the 70m deep shafts due to the planned roof cover slab delivery via SPMTs. The analysis considered the original construction sequence, initial prestressing of the secondary lining, and existing cracks. Wentworth designed a temporary RC bulkhead to resist 700kPa of hydrostatic pressure, providing additional isolation to the existing concrete plug between the Lee Tunnel and the Thames Tideway Tunnels.
- At Chambers Wharf, Wentworth created shallow and piled foundation schemes to support the acoustic enclosure and external gantry structure. The foundations were engineered to accommodate loads from the steel structure, overhead bridge crane, and the skidding system for TBM delivery and removal. A 3D FE geotechnical model was created to verify the global stability of the cofferdam, considering loading effects from the TBM shield and cradle delivery, long-term storage of TBM gantries, and extraction of spud legs from jack-up barges.
- At Deptford Church Street, Wentworth designed a steel flume to fit within the Victorian sewer. Flexible bulkheads were designed to accommodate differential thermal expansion between the new steel flume and the existing masonry lining with concrete surround, maintaining structural integrity and waterproofing. This solution temporarily enhanced the sewer network’s capacity while the major sewer tunnel awaited completion.
- At Earl Pumping Station, Wentworth carried out site enabling and geotechnical works for the sewage pumping station upgrade. This included designing working platforms for hydrofraise, piling, ground improvement rigs, and crawler cranes. A 3D FE geotechnical model assessed potential damage to Thames Water assets from permanent geotechnical works (deep soil mixing, secant pile wall, jet grouting, tension piles) and the subsequent CSO chamber and ATU construction. Wentworth also devised a propping scheme to support the CSO during excavation.
- At Greenwich Pumping Station, we developed a temporary foundation system for large slurry treatment silo farms and equipment. This included a ground-bearing slab and a sheet pile wall to protect an adjacent historic river wall. Emergency tanks for the de-sanding units were designed to meet strict liquid-tightness and serviceability requirements. Shallow foundations supported a temporary shed structure with two overhead bridge cranes, facilitating the delivery of TBM components up to 600 tonnes using SPMTs and specialised gantry cranes.
- At King Edward Memorial Park Foreshore, Wentworth designed the piled raft foundation to support temporary bentonite silo farms, including a damage assessment of the Rotherhithe Tunnel section within the influence zone of the piled raft and submitting an AIP to TfL. The impact of constructing permanent Tideway facilities on the existing river walls, which varied in construction and were locally tied back to the Rotherhithe Tunnel's ventilation shaft, was also evaluated. Historical research on the river wall and ventilation shaft construction informed the damage assessment.
- At Abbey Mills Pumping Station, Wentworth developed a 3D FE geotechnical model to assess adverse effects on the 70m deep shafts due to the planned roof cover slab delivery via SPMTs. The analysis considered the original construction sequence, initial prestressing of the secondary lining, and existing cracks. Wentworth designed a temporary RC bulkhead to resist 700kPa of hydrostatic pressure, providing additional isolation to the existing concrete plug between the Lee Tunnel and the Thames Tideway Tunnels.
- At Chambers Wharf, Wentworth created shallow and piled foundation schemes to support the acoustic enclosure and external gantry structure. The foundations were engineered to accommodate loads from the steel structure, overhead bridge crane, and the skidding system for TBM delivery and removal. A 3D FE geotechnical model was created to verify the global stability of the cofferdam, considering loading effects from the TBM shield and cradle delivery, long-term storage of TBM gantries, and extraction of spud legs from jack-up barges.
- At Deptford Church Street, Wentworth designed a steel flume to fit within the Victorian sewer. Flexible bulkheads were designed to accommodate differential thermal expansion between the new steel flume and the existing masonry lining with concrete surround, maintaining structural integrity and waterproofing. This solution temporarily enhanced the sewer network’s capacity while the major sewer tunnel awaited completion.
- At Earl Pumping Station, Wentworth carried out site enabling and geotechnical works for the sewage pumping station upgrade. This included designing working platforms for hydrofraise, piling, ground improvement rigs, and crawler cranes. A 3D FE geotechnical model assessed potential damage to Thames Water assets from permanent geotechnical works (deep soil mixing, secant pile wall, jet grouting, tension piles) and the subsequent CSO chamber and ATU construction. Wentworth also devised a propping scheme to support the CSO during excavation.
- At Greenwich Pumping Station, we developed a temporary foundation system for large slurry treatment silo farms and equipment. This included a ground-bearing slab and a sheet pile wall to protect an adjacent historic river wall. Emergency tanks for the de-sanding units were designed to meet strict liquid-tightness and serviceability requirements. Shallow foundations supported a temporary shed structure with two overhead bridge cranes, facilitating the delivery of TBM components up to 600 tonnes using SPMTs and specialised gantry cranes.
- At King Edward Memorial Park Foreshore, Wentworth designed the piled raft foundation to support temporary bentonite silo farms, including a damage assessment of the Rotherhithe Tunnel section within the influence zone of the piled raft and submitting an AIP to TfL. The impact of constructing permanent Tideway facilities on the existing river walls, which varied in construction and were locally tied back to the Rotherhithe Tunnel's ventilation shaft, was also evaluated. Historical research on the river wall and ventilation shaft construction informed the damage assessment.
Key Challenges and SolutionsKey Challenges and Solutions
- Complex 3D modelling capturing soil-structure interaction, structural integrity and potential damage assessments allowed Wentworth to safely manage the interface between new and existing assets and to preserve historic structures.
- The evolving nature of the sites required temporary works solutions that did not interfere with existing and future permanent works. We successfully coordinated these through careful consideration of construction sequences and site operations.
- Protecting key infrastructure, such as existing pumping stations, operational structures, river walls, tunnels, and services within or near site boundaries, was a crucial factor in all designs.
- Wentworth successfully developed solutions to numerous complex problems - from challenging stratigraphy and congested sites to extreme loading conditions and demanding construction sequences.
- Investigation and analysis to understand the constraints and risks associated with a project, followed by discussion and appropriate allocation of risk to allow safe and efficient solutions to be developed.
- Complex 3D modelling capturing soil-structure interaction, structural integrity and potential damage assessments allowed Wentworth to safely manage the interface between new and existing assets and to preserve historic structures.
- The evolving nature of the sites required temporary works solutions that did not interfere with existing and future permanent works. We successfully coordinated these through careful consideration of construction sequences and site operations.
- Protecting key infrastructure, such as existing pumping stations, operational structures, river walls, tunnels, and services within or near site boundaries, was a crucial factor in all designs.
- Wentworth successfully developed solutions to numerous complex problems - from challenging stratigraphy and congested sites to extreme loading conditions and demanding construction sequences.
- Investigation and analysis to understand the constraints and risks associated with a project, followed by discussion and appropriate allocation of risk to allow safe and efficient solutions to be developed.
Key Results and AchievementsKey Results and Achievements
“Wentworth’s ability to work in close collaboration with our site teams, as well as other designers, contractors and stakeholders helped meeting several complex design challenges. Above all, we greatly appreciate the way Wentworth act as a fully collaborative partner to CVB with great transparency and honesty.”
Alexandre Chaizemartin
Design and Engineering Manager, CVB JV
Thames Tideway
Alexandre Chaizemartin
Design and Engineering Manager, CVB JV
Thames Tideway
- Wentworth’s long-standing involvement in the project allowed us to have a thorough understanding of the sites’ history throughout the project life. This gave us a unique opportunity to integrate solutions and take advantage of existing features.
- Our open and timely communication, can-do attitude, proactive approach to problem solving and technical expertise allowed us to bring forward appropriate solutions to problems and form an excellent long-term relationship with our client.
- Through collaboration with other contractors, consultants and suppliers, Wentworth successfully took part in the delivery of a large number of multifaceted designs.
- Wentworth’s engineering solutions were tailored to site-specific conditions, providing bespoke designs for complex geometry, installation requirements, and constraints.
“Wentworth’s ability to work in close collaboration with our site teams, as well as other designers, contractors and stakeholders helped meeting several complex design challenges. Above all, we greatly appreciate the way Wentworth act as a fully collaborative partner to CVB with great transparency and honesty.”
Alexandre Chaizemartin
Design and Engineering Manager, CVB JV
Thames Tideway
Alexandre Chaizemartin
Design and Engineering Manager, CVB JV
Thames Tideway
- Wentworth’s long-standing involvement in the project allowed us to have a thorough understanding of the sites’ history throughout the project life. This gave us a unique opportunity to integrate solutions and take advantage of existing features.
- Our open and timely communication, can-do attitude, proactive approach to problem solving and technical expertise allowed us to bring forward appropriate solutions to problems and form an excellent long-term relationship with our client.
- Through collaboration with other contractors, consultants and suppliers, Wentworth successfully took part in the delivery of a large number of multifaceted designs.
- Wentworth’s engineering solutions were tailored to site-specific conditions, providing bespoke designs for complex geometry, installation requirements, and constraints.