Bouygues Travaux Publics Murphy Joint Venture has launched the procurement process for the TBM to build the UK’s longest road tunnel.
The tender launch for the Lower Thames Crossing project follows the government’s £891m investment commitment for the scheme announced last week’s budget.
National Highways says the TBM will be one of the world’s largest and will need to be capable of digging through the complex ground conditions 60m below the River Thames.
The 16.4m-diameter TBM will excavate one of the widest tunnels in the world, allowing three lanes of traffic in each direction and doubling road capacity across the Thames east of London. The tunnel will be more than 4km long.
The machine is expected to be purchased next year before excavation begins in 2028.
Next summer, work will start on the northern tunnel entrance from where the TBM will be launched. The 110m-long, 26m-deep structure will be built within a new worksite that will include the concrete segment production factory. The structure will eventually be hidden underneath a new landscaped park overlooking the Thames near Tilbury docks, called Tilbury Fields.
Delivered by National Highways, the Lower Thames Crossing will be the first major infrastructure project to be carbon neutral in construction. It is taking a low-carbon approach that requires only one machine to dig both the north and southbound tunnels, which also keeps costs down while not adding additional time to construction.
Roads and buses minister Simon Lightwood said the launch of the procurement process for one of Europe’s largest TBMs was a step forward for “this transformational project”.
Lower Thames Crossing executive director Matt Palmer said the launch of the TBM tender put the new road and tunnel on track to open in the early 2030s.
“We’re a step closer to delivering this vital piece of infrastructure, that will improve the journeys for millions and drive growth by creating jobs and new opportunities for business and trade,” he said.
