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.
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