Crossrail tunnel machines drilled out of Tower Hamlets

March 31st 2006

Changes have been made to the tunnelling planned beneath London for Crossrail following residents’ concerns.

A plan to use Hanbury Street in Tower Hamlets as a launching site for tunnel boring machines has been scrapped after widespread opposition, and the work will now be centred on two sites, at Royal Oak and the docklands near Canary Wharf.

A small shaft will be installed on Hanbury Street to assist ventilation and access needs. Crossrail is to write to petitioners to inform them of the new arrangements.

Announcing the decision, transport secretary Alistair Darling said: “The new tunnelling strategy will significantly reduce the environmental impacts of Crossrail construction in Tower Hamlets, and we believe this will be very positive for London.”

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