Scottish Water is to build a 3⋅1 mile-long waste water tunnel in the south of Glasgow as part of the biggest upgrade of the city’s waste water network for more than a century.
The £100 million Shieldhall sewer tunnel will run between Queen’s Park and Craigton industrial estate through Pollok and Bellahouston parks, passing under the M77, and will be the biggest storm water storage tunnel in Scotland. The project is designed to resolve water quality and reduce flooding in the area served by the existing Shieldhall Waste Water Treatment Works.
It represents the single biggest part of Scottish Water’s £250m, five-year programme of work to upgrade the waste water network in the Glasgow area that was announced in February. Other works will include upgrading some 200 outfall pipes on the Clyde and its tributaries.
Work is expected to start in mid-2014 and take three and a half years to complete, including preparatory work, mine working consolidation and utility diversions. A specially designed tunnel boring machine will be used for constructing the 4.65m wide tunnel.
Mr Geoff Aitkenhead, Scottish Water’s Asset Management Director, said the tunnel will resolve large scale water quality problems in the River Clyde and its tributaries, providing aesthetic screening to overflows, as well as reducing the risk of flooding of local streets. He said:“The tunnel will increase capacity and alleviate pressure on the existing network by providing additional storm water storage.”
Welcoming Scottish Water’s announcement, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, said: "The improvement of Glasgow's sewerage network is essential to its future economic growth, a cleaner environment and to resolve long-standing flooding issues.
“In February 2013, we announced a £250m package of investment that will transform an ageing network into a modern drainage network fit for the needs of 21st century Glasgow. The Shieldhall tunnel is an essential part of this project.”
