London’s new super sewer tunnel was visited today by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal as she delved deep below the River Thames to witness the progress made during the pandemic.

Hosted by the project’s CEO, Andy Mitchell, HRH was given the important task of fixing in the final bolt into the last penstock to be fitted at the site in Chelsea Embankment.

Tideway, the company building the 25km sewer, that stretches from Acton in the West to Stratford in the East, has reached the final 5km of the main tunnel to go, marking the last stretch of the tunnelling phase of the project.

Andy Mitchell, who has been leading the construction industry’s response to Covid-19, said: “Whilst like everyone, the pandemic has had an impact on our progress, what’s important to recognise is the amazing work that has been achieved by our teams over the past 16 months, including here at our site in Chelsea.

“This site is a vital component to the giant puzzle we are building, connecting 24 sites across the city, under the river, to help prevent the millions of tonnes of sewage that currently pollute the Thames.  

“We have much work ahead of us to get this vital project over the line but with our progress to date, we are well on our way.” 

The Princess Royal, who has a keen interest in the engineering behind the project and has visited sites before, was shown how the section of the tunnel at Chelsea will connect into the sewerage network, providing a long-term solution to the city’s ever-increasingly populated city.

Due for completion in 2025, the Thames Tideway Tunnel project will deliver a vital upgrade to London’s sewer network whilst also creating new land along the embankment for Londoners to enjoy.