New Tyne Tunnel construction reaches halfway mark

Oct 29 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

“With cut and cover excavations complete we’re one step closer to opening the new tunnel in 2011.”

Dredging to excavate the trench for the river section of the new vehicle tunnel is due to start within a matter of weeks. At the beginning of November the cutter suction dredger Vesalius is due to arrive on the Tyne from Spain to start around six weeks of work on dredging a channel within which the river tunnel sections will be placed.

The four 90-metre long sections have already been constructed at Wallsend Dry Dock, ready for immersion beneath the Tyne in January.

The spoil which will be sucked from the river trench will be transported by pipe and used to fill in around 13 acres of the Victorian Tyne Dock to create new development land for the Port of Tyne.

Around 10% of the material is contaminated by deposits from the old Jarrow Gas Works and this will be laid on the bed of the Tyne Dock and sealed, with the remainder of the spoil piled on top.

After concerns that dredging would happen at the peak time for the Tyne salmon run in September-October, it will now take place in the originally-agreed window next month.