New underwater transport crossing completed

Date: 24/2/2010

The New Tyne Crossing was completed yesterday as the fourth section was lowered into place underneath the River Tyne, linking the A19 between East Howdon and Jarrow near Newcastle.

The new underwater transport channel is due to be open to traffic this time next year.

Ballast tanks were used to manoeuvre each of the four pre-fabricated concrete sections into a trench which has been dug up to 18 metres below the riverbed. Each 90-metre part weighs around 10,000 tonnes.

The sections were floated from the dry dock at Walker to Howdon Basin, three kilometres away. Each section will now be covered with rock armour to protect the completed tunnel from damage.

As soon as the new crossing is operational, the existing tunnel will close for refurbishment. Both tunnels are expected to be functioning by 2012.

Nicolas Caille of contractor Bouygues Travaux Publics said everyone involved with the project is pleased by its progress.

"Putting into place this final piece of the puzzle will enable us to complete the river tunnel and link it up to the tunnels that are being built either side of the river."

The project is now 60 per cent finished, and the next step is to pump liquefied sand into the gap between the trench and the riverbed to stabilise the structure.