Thames Tideway Tunnel - East Section
East London (Chambers Wharf to Abbey Mills Pumping Station) · 2016-2025 (Overall project construction 2016, Completion 2025)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchUse of production thinking, modern methods of construction, and new technologies to build efficiencies [2] - Prototyping, building, and testing assets before design freeze [2] - Standardisation of products and design standards across the project alliance [2] - Implementation of a lean construction methodology, achieving £1m in cost reductions [2] - Extensive use of river transport for materials to reduce HGV journeys and carbon emissions [2] - Pioneering the world’s first electric hydrofraise for shaft excavation [2]
Key engineering challenges
Constructing deep shafts and tunnels in a complex urban environment [1] - Monitoring and protecting adjacent buildings and infrastructure during construction [1] - Maintaining flows through existing sewers during interception works [2] - Minimizing carbon emissions, noise, and air pollution during construction [2]
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Tideway
- Lead contractor
- Costain, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, Bachy Soletanche (Joint Venture) [1] [2]
- Lead designers
- Jacobs (Program Manager for overall project) [ICE]
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- 5.5km main tunnel, 4.6km connecting tunnel (East section) [1]; 25km overall tunnel length [2]
- Disciplines
- Civil; structural; geotechnical; mechanical; electrical; environmental; tunnelling
- Standards & frameworks
- CDM Regulations; NEC4 (implied); Environmental Agency regulations
Sources: Sixense North America: https://northernamerica.sixense-group.com/references/thames-tideway-tunnel-east-uk (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - Costain: https://www.costain.com/insights/2025/thames-tideway-tunnel-building-resilience-and-creating-a-sustainable-future-with-london-s-new-super-sewer/ (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - ICE: https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/infrastructure-projects/thames-tideway (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68464798 (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S0965089X25000412 (Accessed: 2026-06-10)