Fitzpatrick in a jam with Blackwall tunnel delays

Fitzpatrick has missed a fourth completion date on its £15.5m refurbishment contract of east London’s Blackwall tunnel.

Work on the southbound tunnel, which includes the provision of new lighting and communication and information systems, was due to finish in April last year after Fitzpatrick started on site in 2002.

However, difficulties on the contract have led to Fitzpatrick missing four completion dates in April and October last year, and  June and August this year. The dates were agreed with client Transport for London (TfL).

Work is not expected to be completed until December at the earliest, although TfL admitted there are “uncertainties” over this revised date.

TfL’s patience with the contractor is believed to be wearing thin and Fitzpatrick is expected to face hefty fines for delivering the project nearly two years behind schedule.

Some put the likely penalty figure at the £1m mark.

In a statement, which confirmed suggestions that relations are becoming strained between the two parties, TfL said: “The contractor is yet again experiencing major delays in its programme, and due to the complexity of the work, our current forecast completion date of December still has some uncertainties.

“TfL is working with the contractor to help to resolve the difficulties, which should allow us to determine an end date to the works that we are confident will be met.

“Most of the extensive and complex upgrades and new installations have been completed. However, the commissioning and testing of the new systems is taking longer than anticipated.

“We regret that the closure regime will have to remain in place until this work is completed in order to prevent compromising the safety of the men or tunnel while testing is in progress.”

TfL told CJ it would be addressing the issue of pena-lties when the work is finally
completed.

Fitzpatrick refused to make any comment on the reasons for the delay and referred all questions to TfL.