A Crossrail tunnel connecting the Limmo Peninsula to Victoria Dock has been completed in just nine weeks.
The 900 metre tunnel’s creation means 83 per cent of Crossrail tunnels have been completed, with the £14.8bn project running to schedule.
The latest tunnel was dug out by tunnel boring machine Jessica - named after Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill - which also created one of the two running from Pudding Mill Lane to Stepney Green.
Jessica’s sister tunnelling machine, Ellie, will create the twin tunnel from Canning Town to the Docks in the coming weeks.
Crossrail’s chief executive, Andrew Wolstenholme, said: “We continue to make good progress on Crossrail’s tunnels.
“The end is now in sight on Crossrail’s tunnelling marathon, but there is much more to do in the form of installing railway systems and fitting out the stations.”
The creation of new tunnels is due to be completed early next year, with eight tunnel boring machines working along the network.
At 150m long and 7.1m in diameter, Jessica was operated by teams of 20 people.
Crossrail services will run through central London in 2018, with the network taking control of the Liverpool Street to Shenfield line as early as next year.
Read more:
George Osborne unveils Crossrail Thames Tunnel in North Woolwich
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