11.08.14
Crossrail tunnelling works more than 80% complete
The Crossrail tunnel from Limmo Peninsula to Victoria Dock has been completed by tunnel boring machine Jessica.
The 1,000 tonne machine, named after Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE, completed its 900m journey in just nine weeks, travelling as much as 41m per day.
Jessica is 150m long and 7.1m in diameter and was staffed by teams of 20 people. The latest work was her second Crossrail tunnel drive, having already created one of the two tunnels forming the spur from Pudding Mill Lane near Stratford to Stepney Green.
The machine will now be dismantled, with parts returned to manufacturer Herrenknecht for use on other tunnelling projects.
Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail chief executive, said: “We continue to make good progress on Crossrail’s tunnels. The end is now in sight on Crossrail’s tunnelling marathon, but there is much more to do in the form of installing railway systems and fitting out the stations.”
Jessica’s sister tunnelling machine, Ellie, will start the remaining twin tunnel from Limmo to Victoria Dock in the coming weeks.
Crossrail has also confirmed that 83% of its tunnels work is complete, with TBM tunnelling due to complete early next year. The Dragados Sisk JV (joint venture) is constructing the eastern tunnels between Pudding Mill Lane and Stepney Green, Limmo Peninsula and Farringdon, and Victoria Dock Portal and Limmo.
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