Select Committee on Crossrail First Special Report


7   Revised Tunnelling Strategy

130. On 30 March 2006 the then Secretary of State announced changes to the tunnelling strategy through Tower Hamlets. CLRL had carried out a 'fundamental' review and had concluded that there would no longer be a need to launch tunnel-boring machines from Hanbury Street in east London. It had concluded that by significantly recasting the construction programme it was possible to accommodate the major part of the tunnelling activities from the two tunnel boring machine launch sites already proposed at Royal Oak in west London and between Canary Wharf and Custom House in the Docklands area of east London. Therefore Crossrail would not need to launch tunnel boring machines from Hanbury Street in east London. This was a significant achievement as it would significantly reduce the environmental impacts in Tower Hamlets.

131. We were pleased to learn that there would be no need for the works between Hanbury Street and Pedley Street or the conveyor along the Great Eastern main line. Mile End Park would not be needed as a site for stockpiling excavated material. A shaft would still need to be constructed at Hanbury street for ventilation and intervention, but this will be a much smaller structure, involving less work and so reducing disruption to the local community.

132. The Committee welcomed the revised tunnelling strategy. Tower Hamlets is an area of considerable social depravation and reducing the railway's impact on the area was clearly beneficial.


 
previous page contents next page

House of Commons home page Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries index

© Parliamentary copyright 2007
Prepared 23 October 2007