Using river transport to limit the carbon footprint of Tideway East

13 May 2022 - Projects update and handover - United Kingdom

In London, VINCI Construction Grands Projets (leader), Bachy Soletanche (VINCI Construction) and Costain are currently building two sections – 5.5 and 4.6 km in length – of the East works package of the Thames Tideway drainage tunnel project.

In order to limit the project’s environmental impact, the teams have chosen to evacuate the excavated soils, and transport the voussoirs, using barges on the Thames. More than 250,000 return trips by lorry have thus been avoided, reducing carbon emissions by 18,000 t. And using fuel based on hydrotreated vegetable oil means a 92% drop in emissions per litre as compared to the diesel traditionally used. The Tideway East works began in September 2015 and will be completed in late 2023.