Crossrail tunnelling contracts out to tender

Crossrail Limited (CRL) has put a package of major tunnelling works for the £16bn Crossrail project out to tender.

The work, split into two lots, will involve the construction of a series of 6.2m-internal diameter twin-bored tunnels under central London, approximately 21km in length.

The entire contract is expected to last 66 months.

The works comprise:

• Lot 300: The construction of twin 6.2m diameter bored tunnels from the Royal Oak Portal (west of Paddington Station) through to the new Crossrail Farringdon Station. The length of drive is around 6.2km. Cross passages are required at every 500m, with a shaft at Fisher Street. A crossover tunnel is also required at Fisher Street using sprayed concrete techniques.
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• Lot 305: An 8.3km-long twin 6.2m diameter bored tunnel from Limmo Peninsular through to the new Crossrail Farringdon station. Work includes a launch chamber at Limmo Peninsular. A launch chamber at Stepney Green and 2.7km tunnel through to the Pudding Mill Lane portal. A launch chamber at Limmo Peninsular through to Victoria Dock portal, and a 0.9km-long tunnel.

The deadline for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 28 September 2009.

CECA head of industry affairs Alasdair Reisner said: “The delivery of Crossrail is hugely important both to the civil engineering sector, and to the UK economy as a whole. There have been those who have recently suggested that the scheme might not go ahead, due to the state of the economy. By advertising these tunnelling contracts, Crossrail Ltd has helped to dampen these fears, moving towards construction of this important scheme. It is vital that this momentum is now maintained, keeping the project on track for delivery in 2017.”