Morgan Est breaks through on Thames tunnelling job - PHOTOS

Morgan Est has made a successful tunnel breakthrough at New River Head in Islington, as part of its £28m contract to extend the Thames Water Ring Main.

Yesterday's breakthrough follows 12 months of tunnelling, which began at Thames Water’s Stoke Newington Reservoir in Hackney.

Daljit Dhanda, Morgan Est Project Manager, said: “The entire team has done extremely well in delivering this tunnel.

“It has been a reliable drive and we have had good steady progress in often challenging conditions.

“The project has been undertaken in a quiet residential area with work continuing 24-hours a day, five days a week.

“Through constant monitoring of noise levels, effective mitigation measures and a professional disciplined workforce we have ensured the agreed constant levels were not exceeded and have minimised our impact on the local environment.

“The breakthrough itself went extremely well and is testament to the consistent dedication and hard work of our team.”

Morgan Est’s contract required the construction of a 4.5km tunnel which connects a major water treatment works to the London Ring Main, a 50-mile water tunnel forming a complete ring around the capital.

The finished 2.6m diameter concrete-lined tunnel will link the water treatment plant at Coppermills with the Thames Water Ring Main ensuring greater resilience of London’s potable water supply.

Project completion is scheduled for spring 2010.