National Grid has reached the halfway point in the construction of a new 2.2km high-voltage electricity cable tunnel between Essex and Kent.
So far, the Tilbury to Gravesend tunnel boring machine (TBM) has progressed more than 1.1km beneath the River Thames.
Since tunnelling began in May, more than 40,000 tonnes of material have been excavated and over 5,100 pre-cast concrete tunnel segments have been installed to form the tunnel lining.
Mark Farmer, Project Director at National Grid, said: “Reaching the halfway point of tunnelling beneath the River Thames is an important moment for the Grain to Tilbury project and is a testament to the expertise and collaboration of teams across National Grid and our partners.
“The progress made so far reflects the dedication of everyone involved and moves us a step closer to delivering infrastructure that will help strengthen the electricity network and support Britain’s future energy needs.”
As part of the company’s Great Grid Upgrade, the project is designed to strengthen the electricity network and support the continued connection of secure, cleaner and home-grown sources of energy across the UK.
This construction is replacing the existing Thames Cable Tunnel, which has been in service since the late 1960s and is approaching the end of its operational life.
