A project milestone has been reached on the £4.2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel development.

The first of six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have arrived on site, which will be used to build the 25km long tunnel.

The project is being delivered via a three-way joint venture (JV) between Morgan Sindall, BAM Nuttall and Balfour Beatty. The scheme aims to tackle sewage pollution in the River Thames, helping to reduce millions of tonnes of raw sewage that overflow into the River each year.

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More than 90% of the materials for the scheme will be transported by barge, including the TBMS, which will reduce the number of road vehicle journeys needed to build the tunnel by more than 300,000. In addition, around 4,000 jobs will be created via the use of the river.

Andy Mitchell, Tideway's Chief Executive Officer, said: "The arrival of our first TBM marks a major milestone for the construction of London's super sewer and it also demonstrates our commitment to use the river to transport materials and reduce the number of vehicles on London's roads.

"Our vision is to reconnect London with the River Thames and, by practicing what we preach, we want to demonstrate the huge potential of our city's greatest natural asset."

(LM)