Work is underway to develop a £4 billion 'super sewer' project on the Thames River in London.

The deployment of a crane barge for pier construction work signalled the start of work on Thursday, 03 December.

The 25km Thames Tideway Tunnel scheme will intercept sewage from 34 polluting Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO's) points along the river and transfer it to Beckton in east London for treatment.

Last week, two boats bushed a large supporting crane into position near Blackfriars Bridge allowing work to start on a new pier in preparation for construction of the super sewer.

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The work is being undertaken by VolkerStevin and includes developing a new staircase and lift connecting the Embankment and Blackfriars Bridge.

Andy Alder, Central Project Delivery Manager for Tideway, said: "Getting the barge into place was no mean feat. The 20m wide barge had to be carefully threaded under seven bridges and through the traffic on one of the busiest working rivers in the world. Alongside the man-made challenges, the crane also needed perfect tidal water levels and good weather before the movement could go ahead.

"This crane will give us the capability that we need to prepare the Blackfriars site for our vital work to upgrade London's sewerage system.

"This work is taking place directly next to one of Sir Joseph Bazalgette's famous interceptor sewers in the embankment, so it's a fitting place to start our work."

(LM/MH)