Engineers from National Grid’s flagship London Power Tunnels project are celebrating after tunneling operations reached another major landmark. Since it began its journey from Willesden Substation earlier this year, giant tunnel boring machine (TBM), Evelyn, has dug almost 3 km of tunnel deep below London and has now reached the pre-prepared tunnel shaft at National Grid’s site off Canal Way in Kensal Green.
The next phase of digging operations will see Evelyn construct a tunnel to its next destination, National Grid’s St John’s Wood Substation.
Evelyn is digging 19 km of the 32-km London Power Tunnels project which will provide an easy to maintain underground electricity superhighway and help ensure Londoners are kept connected to safe and reliable electricity supplies.
A second TBM, Cleopatra, is digging the other 13 km of the route and is currently approximately 2.5 km from her launch site in Haringey.
National Grid’s Head of Cable Tunnels David Luetchford said: “The breakthrough at Kensal Green takes us one step closer to completing this essential project. It’s National Grid’s job to connect people to the energy they use and this breakthrough is just one part of a much bigger story.”
The London Power Tunnels Project is due for completion in 2018.
