Major maintenance works will be carried out to the Fore Street Tunnel this weekend (21-24 November) as part of Transport for London (TfL)’s £4 billion Road Modernisation Plan.
The work will see the walls of the tunnel replaced, with 30 tonnes of pre-cast concrete wall slabs being fixed in place by 70 tonnes of poured concrete. This work, which cannot be undertaken while traffic is using the tunnel, will help extend its life, ensuring this vital part of the road network can continue serving London for years to come.
Since April this year, TfL has been carrying out overnight works to Fore Street Tunnel to bring the tunnel, which forms part of the A406 North Circular Road and runs underneath Silver Street station, into a good state of repair. Since then, work has progressed well, with upgrades to the electrics and a new fire main installed, as well as new waterproofing to the walls. Temporary cabling for new, energy efficient lighting and improved CCTV cameras has also been installed, allowing for the systems to be fully upgraded later this year.
TfL has worked with key partners, including the local boroughs, to ensure that the improvement work can be undertaken with the minimum of disruption. The diversion route will be clearly signed and TfL will be monitoring the works across the weekend to ensure that any delays are kept to a minimum. Further weekend closures will be required early next year to continue these concrete works as well as replace access panels to the tunnels drainage system, which are located in the carriageway. Further information about these closures will be announced as soon as dates are confirmed.
Dana Skelley, director of asset management at TfL, said: “The important refurbishment work we are carrying out at Fore Street Tunnel continues to progress well. However, there are some aspects of the work that, unfortunately, just cannot be completed without a full weekend closure. We are committed to keeping disruption caused by this first weekend closure to a minimum, and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.”
