Thames Water has confirmed that it is unlikely to choose a contractor this year for the construction of the planned £400 million, seven kilometre Lee Tunnel.
The announcement of Thames’ final choice between the Morgan Est, Bachy Solentanche and Vinci Construction Grands Projets joint venture and the Murphy and Hochtief team is now not expected to be announced before Christmas.
Construction of the tunnel was scheduled to begin in January – Thames now hope that construction will begin on site in April 2010. The delay in procurement means that work would be put back by up to six months while the winning team prepares detailed designs after the contract has been awarded.
The Lee Tunnel will collect storm sewage, which normally flows into the River Lee from a single overflow point at Abbey Mills Pumping Station in Stratford. By capturing the single overflow, the Lee Tunnel will halve the 32 million cubic metres of storm sewage that enters the tidal River Thames each year. The tunnel will then transfer the flows to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works for treatment.
Thames Water’s planned extension to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works must also be completed by the time the Lee Tunnel is in operation – the increased capacity will be needed to treat flows from the tunnel.
The delay has implications for the shortlisted companies. Reports in this morning's press suggest that Morgan Est may have to lay off staff in its tunnelling division as a result of delays in other key infrastructure projects.
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