Barhale have successfully completed the installation of a 60m long 2.8m diameter steel pipeline to join the existing Lee Tunnel to a new storm tunnel as part of integration into the Thames Tideway Tunnel system. The team was brought in by Costain, Atkins and Black & Veatch (CABV), delivery partner for Thames Water’s eight₂O alliance, to make the connection.

This complex installation required the use of a 200t mobile crane and a 90t crawler crane working in tandem to manoeuvre the sections of pipe, measuring up to 11.6m in length and weighting up to 26t, into the vertical shaft. Barhale also installed an overland horizontal pipeline connecting the underground elements to the existing Lee Tunnel Flow Collection Chamber.

Other than the pipe itself, all steelwork on the project was designed, fabricated and installed by Barhale. This included the fabrication and installation of a bespoke 25m access staircase into the vertical shaft.

Barhale’s Regional Manager, Ovi Frunza has been delighted to have seen the project through to it’s completion in what he described as an excellent demonstration of teamwork, innovation and good engineering.

“We are very pleased with the way that the project has come together” he said. “This could not have been achieved without the input of the entire team and we were able to call on the extensive experience and knowhow of our people including our in-house fabrications team at BCS.”

Ovi concluded by saying, “This is an important step to help grow the capacity of the waste water system for London and the South East.”