Morgan Sindall, as part of the MVB, joint venture with VINCI Construction Grands Projects and Bachy Soletanche, is delivering the Lee Tunnel, Britain’s largest water engineering project for 20 years.
Project Description
The GBP 635 million project (worth more than GBP 208 million to Morgan Sindall), involves the construction of a four-mile length of tunnel. The tunnel is to prevent sewage discharges, into the river Lee from the largest sewer overflow point at Abbey Mills Pumping Station, Stratford, East London. The 7 meter-diameter tunnel, the width of three London buses, will prevent more than 16 million tonnes of sewage mixed with rainwater, overflowing into the river from the Victorian sewer network when it becomes overloaded. The tunnel will store, and then transfer sewage to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, which is being expanded to deal with the increased treatment volumes. The Lee Tunnel, the first of two planned tunnels, marks a massive step forward in improving the quality of London’s rivers and is an essential part of providing the capital with a 21st century sewerage system. The project includes five shafts, which will be up to 75 meters deep. Tunneling work started in 2012, and progress is in line with the schedule to meet the required completion date of 2015.
AVK Engineering Site Solution – Invicta Valves
Invicta Valves was awarded the contract to supply and install 19-off actuated penstocks,12-off flap valves at the Abbey Mills site, and the Beckton WWTW site. The penstock / flap valve ranged in size from 3 m square opening up to 4.8 m wide x 5.2 m deep. The total value of the contract, was more than GBP 1 million and the supply and installation were scheduled to be carried out over a 18-month period. 14-off penstocks and 12-off flap valves were installed into new build civil works, and the remaining 5-off penstocks are to be installed into existing installations. Several site surveys had to be carried out to establish the actual dimensions of the old installations, and compare these with the original Thames Water drawings. These surveys necessitated confined space entry into the chambers and wading in the media up to waste height. The majority of the penstocks and flap valves have been installed, and commissioned with the exception of 5 penstocks that are to be installed into original chambers. Some of these were installed over the Christmas period and the last and largest penstock, installed in January 2016.
Better than the rest…
Utilising the skill of Invicta engineers and project management excellence over 100 drawings were discussed with the MVB design and engineering team. This enabled us to decipher the best engineering solution for design, and the install of penstocks up to a massive 4.8m x 5.2m. Our professionalism in submission of associated RAMS (Risk Assessment Method Statements) and support from our supply chain presentations to the MVB senior engineering and procurement management teams. Ensured our successful bid to gain participation in the biggest UK water project for over 20 years. Our overall project management expertise, from concept to completion, was the differentiator between Invicta Valves and our competition.
Invicta - Environmental water management solutions for resilient flood protection
Invicta have over thirty-five years experience, supporting major contracting organisations, Mechanical Electrical Instrumentation and Automation (MEICA) specialists, civil engineering companies and local Environment Agency offices with their water management and flood protection projects.
Find out more at the Glenfield Invicta webpage
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