en.Wedoany.com Reported - A tunnel boring machine (TBM) with a diameter of 16.4 meters, the largest in Europe, has been selected for the Thames crossing project in the UK. The equipment will arrive on site and commence tunneling in 2028. Manufactured by Germany's Herrenknecht, this giant machine will excavate two parallel tunnels, doubling road capacity east of London on the Thames to alleviate chronic congestion in the Dartford area and boost regional trade.
The TBM measures 16.4 meters in diameter, 120 meters in length, and weighs over 5,000 tons, making it the largest in Europe and the third largest globally. Due to its immense size, it will be transported in sections by sea, arriving at Tilbury Port via the Thames. Each of the two tunnels to be excavated will be more than twice the size of the existing Dartford tunnels, accommodating three lanes of traffic at 70 mph. The new road is scheduled to open in the early to mid-2030s.
At 2.6 miles long, the tunnel will be the longest road tunnel in the UK. The project opted for a tunnel over a bridge to avoid impacting local communities and wetland bird habitats. The total route length is 14.3 miles, with approximately 80% located within tunnels, cuttings, or behind embankments, designed to blend with the surrounding landscape.
The project has implemented multiple measures to reduce carbon emissions. The tunnel lining uses low-carbon concrete, and design changes have reduced the scope of work. The TBM will be powered by renewable energy. These initiatives are expected to make the Thames crossing the first major infrastructure project to achieve carbon neutrality during construction. The project will use only a single TBM to excavate both tunnels, saving costs and reducing the carbon footprint. The equipment is planned to begin excavating the first tunnel near Tilbury Port in Thurrock in 2028, then turn around to construct the second.
Shaun Pidcock, Delivery Director for the Thames crossing, stated that selecting a partner to supply the giant TBM marks substantial progress, allowing the machine to be put into immediate use upon arrival. Didier Jacques, Tunneling Director for the Bouygues TP Murphy Joint Venture, noted that as the delivery partner for the tunnel and its approaches, the team will work closely with Herrenknecht on the detailed design development of the TBM, focusing on accelerating carbon reduction and integrating safety concepts. Frédéric Battistoni, Head of Project Management at Herrenknecht, explained that this TBM will be the largest machine manufactured at Herrenknecht's German headquarters, and the largest variable-density TBM ever built, equipped with Herrenknecht's largest accessible cutterhead. Its innovative design can adapt to changing ground conditions, improving safety, efficiency, and logistics in tunneling operations.
The TBM is of the variable-density type, suitable for varying geological layers such as clay and chalk up to 60 meters deep below the water table and beneath the Thames. The equipment is manufactured by Germany's Herrenknecht and will be purchased and operated by the project's delivery partner, the Bouygues TP Murphy Joint Venture. Herrenknecht has previously supplied TBMs for projects including the Elizabeth Line, Silvertown Tunnel, HS2, and the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
