Tenders Invited for Construction of Phase 1 of Thames Tideway TunnelThames Water has advertised the GBP300-375 million Phase 1 works on its GBP2.2 billion Thames Tideway tunnel project. Phase 1 comprises the main tunnelling contract for the Lee tunnel, which will run from Beckton sewage treatment works to the Abbey Mills pumping station in east London (see red alignment on map). Contractors have until 12th January, 2008 to express interest in the scheme. Click uk/54.The contract form for Phase 1 will be design and build. Thames Water will provide an outline design of all civil, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation, controls and automation works. The contractor will be responsible for all detailed design. The design of the tunnelling machine and linings will be agreed with the contractor. Phase 1 includes: 6.9 km of 7 m-internal diameter (ID) tunnel in depths of up to 75 m, through the Upper Chalk with flints, potentially at 7.5 bar groundwater pressure, a 62.5 m-deep, 25 m ID shaft at Abbey Mills pumping station, an 86.5 m-deep, 38 m ID pumping shaft at Beckton sewage treatment works, a 86.5 m, 25 m ID intermediate shaft adjacent to the pumping shaft, a 40 m-long, 25 m ID suction culvert tunnel joining the pumping shaft to the intermediate shaft, an 81.5 m-deep, 25 m ID drive shaft at Beckton, a 400 m-long outfall culvert from the drive shaft through the river wall and into the Thames and installation of all associated M&E equipment. Work is programmed to begin in March 2009 for completion by June 2014. A second phase comprising the 32.2 km tunnel running from Hammersmith to Beckton is not due to start on site until 2012, with completion planned for 2020.The full scheme comprises 39 km of tunnel, which will intercept 36 combined sewer overflows to prevent them discharging into the Thames after heavy rainfall. Click here. Visit www.thameswater.co.uk/tidewaytunnel 52/07-01/08.