London’s £4.2 billion super sewer is seen from the air as new pictures reveal deep shafts carved into the banks of the River Thames.
The so-called Thames Tideway tunnel snakes alongside the famous waterway – stretching 15 miles (25 km) – between Acton in the capital’s west to Beckton in the east.
The project aims to “intercept, store and ultimately transfer sewage waste away” from the Thames, developers say, helping ease pressure on the current 19th-century sewer system.
The new aerial images reveal gaping shafts close to London landmarks including MI6′s headquarters in Vauxhall Cross, south London, famed for its appearances in the James Bond film series.
The pictures also show how the river itself is being used to transport materials – which development chiefs say takes an estimated 200 lorries off London’s roads each day.
Yet fears over dust, noise and air pollution from the tunnel’s construction have sparked protests by some residents.
What is the Thames Tideway tunnel?
According to the company behind the project, Tideway, the development hopes to upgrade London’s sewer system “to cope with its growing population”.
The current sewer system is largely based upon a design by Sir Joseph Bazalgette from the 1850s.
The entire project, estimated to cost £4.2bn, is ultimately funded by utility customers through higher water bills.
Explaining the need for the billion-pound initiative, Tideway said: “It may be hard to believe, but until the tunnel is built, we’re treating the river like a toilet.
“Raw sewage flows directly into the Thames when it rains, as this is the only way to stop homes and streets from flooding when the existing Victorian sewers overflow.”
The development is due to be completed in 2024.
