Construction News

20/11/2014

Tunnelling Machine Used To Improve Water Quality For United Utilities

One of the largest Earth Pressure Balanced tunnelling machines in the UK has been delivered to Balfour Beatty.

The machine is being used as part of a £32 million project to improve water quality in the Manchester Ship Canal for its customer, United Utilities.

The 140 tonne machine is designed for operation in soft ground conditions containing water under pressure, differing from other large tunnelling machines that operate in dry conditions.

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It was driven from Staffordshire to the Manchester site before being lifted down into one of the three 30 metre deep shafts the company has constructed as part of a project to prevent undiluted sewage entering the ship canal.

Balfour Beatty's supply chain partner Murphy's will now start tunnelling under the Trafford Park site, including a road, to create a 3.66 metre wide, 700 metre long tunnel.

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