Two Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) schemes that will enhance the sewer network and help to protect the environment in Teesside are now underway.
Esh-Stantec working in partnership with Northumbrian Water will create two new pipelines that will add resilience and capacity to the existing network.
The largest of the two schemes, known as Tees Transfers, involves the construction of a 9km pipeline to connect Long Newton with Middleton One Row, via Goosebeck.
Trenchless operations will be used to tunnel beneath the A67, the Northern Line railway and the historic route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. This will avoid the need to work in the highway, or cut through the rail line, so that traffic and trains are not disrupted.
Elsewhere in Teesside, work has begun on a second project to install a 3km connecting pipeline between the sewage treatment works (STW) at Kirklevington and a pumping station at Yarm. The project will also see Kirklevington STW replaced with a pumping station.
David Pratt, Divisional Director for Esh-Stantec, said: “As with all Esh-Stantec schemes, we are committed to a customer-focussed approach to ensure residents and businesses are kept fully up to date throughout. By utilising innovative tunnelling works – an approach used on a similar scheme in the County Durham area – we will significantly reduce disruption to both road and rail users while delivering important improvements on the Teesside sewer network.”
Denis O’Brien Esh-Stantec Design Programme Manager added: “These projects are vital to support our environmental responsibilities. While tunnelling will reduce disruption to transport links, it will also minimise the levels of embodied carbon from the pipeline’s construction, as will the reuse of existing assets. This is yet another example of the Esh-Stantec venture sharing knowledge, expertise and best practice to support smarter water networks in the North East.”
The projects were procured through Northumbrian Water’s Capital Construction Works Runway 3 framework which helps maintain and improve the water and sewerage treatment and network assets.
David Greensmith, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said: “These two projects represent a significant investment in enhancing our network to better serve our customers, and in protecting the environment as part of our Water Industry National Environment Programme commitments.
“While most of the pipeline routes are on private land, and we are working closely with the relevant landowners, where it does come close to customers’ homes, we will keep them informed.
“And, of course, we have some sensitive areas on the Long Newton to Middleton One Row pipeline route, where we are working to remove the need to disrupt travel, as well as protecting the route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which is an important part of this area’s rich history.”
Esh-Stantec is a joint venture between Esh Construction and sustainable design and engineering firm, Stantec, and was formed in 2015 to deliver projects through Northumbrian Water’s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure frameworks.
By utilising innovative tunnelling works – an approach used on a similar scheme in the County Durham area – we will significantly reduce disruption to both road and rail users while delivering important improvements on the Teesside sewer network.”