Never before seen footage of gas distribution company Cadent’s Tunnel Under the River Thames project has been released.

Using timelapse photography, the film chronicles the construction process of the £18 million project to date – including site establishment, shaft sinking and the digging of the tunnel itself by TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) Amanda .

The action unfolds against the backdrop of iconic London landmarks the Royal Hospital Chelsea , Battersea Park and the River Thames.

The new tunnel is 330 metres long with a diameter of 1.8m and has two 30m tunnel shafts, one in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea and the other in the grounds of Battersea Park.

Two 30m shafts were sunk earlier this year before TBM Amanda, which was controlled by an above ground operator, then dug the long tunnel in just 24 days.

The project team are now busy preparing the tunnel for the installation of the new gas pipe which will help keep the flourishing district – which includes the Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms development – connected to safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating.

Not good if you don't like heights...

Project Manager Andrew Hejdner said: “Our new film gives people the chance to view some never-before-seen footage of what we’ve been up to deep below London."

Breakthrough!

The tunnel is due for completion in 2018 and forms a key part of Cadent’s essential £1 billion programme to replace ageing gas infrastructure in the capital.

Tunnel Under the Thames in numbers

£17.5m – Project value – Same as an 1956 Aston Martin DBR1, the most expensive British car in history

3km – Tunnels completed by the TBM since 1997 including England, Wales and Mexico

330m – The tunnel is longer than the Eiffel Tower

618 – Number of segments to construct the two shafts

4,500 m3 excavated material – Same size as 30 x double decker buses!

Zero – Lost time incidents during the project to date

Amanda – TBM is named “Amanda” after Amanda Lord, Infirmary Manager at the Royal Hospital

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