HS2’s contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG JV, has signed the first of two contracts for the production of concrete precast tunnel segments
Pacadar UK will be manufacturing the tunnel lining at its factory in the Isle of Grain, Kent.
The segments will be used in the first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) drives in London, when two giant machines will be launched in early 2022.
It will be the largest contract the company has ever delivered in the UK and will support 180 jobs in the UK.
The production will begin in January next year at the factory and the materials will then be delivered to HS2’s TBM launch site in West Ruislip by rail, reducing HGV movements on the road, where the construction of the twin bored, 5 mile, Northolt Tunnel West will begin.
Over 160,000m3 of concrete will be used to make the segments which form a 9.5m outside diameter tunnel 0.35m thick. Each complete ring is made of seven segments and a key. Each segment weighs approximately seven tonnes.
They will be fitted to line the tunnel by the first two of six 2,600 tonnes TBMs that are currently under construction by TBM manufacturer, Herrenknecht, in Germany.
The first TBM for the London tunnels will be delivered later this year and will be assembled for launch in 2022.
A reliable partner within the precast concrete sector
Jorge Sanchez at Pacadar UK, said: “Pacadar UK are excited to be awarded such an important contract. We look forward to working jointly with SCS-JV over the coming years and keep adding value to the project based on our expertise and know-how.
“The total length of the twin bored tunnel is 10 miles which will require a volume of concrete of 160.000 m3. The supply will be made by rail covering a short distance and reducing, therefore, the carbon footprint of the project.
“With efficiency and sustainability as our core objectives, Pacadar UK and Pacadar Group will continue to be a reliable partner within the growing precast concrete sector.”
Malcolm Codling, project client for HS2 Ltd, added: “We are making exciting progress across London and are gearing up to start our immense tunneling work underneath the capital.
“It is great that the first of our precast tunnel segments are being manufactured here in the UK, providing UK jobs at a time when it is most critical as the country recovers from the pandemic.”
