Ross-on-Wye

The tunnelling works have been stepped up to run 24-hours a day for the next eight weeks to make up for time lost due to problems with the tunnelling machine. Contractor Morgan Est started the 24-hour working this week to hopefully make up the time so the scheme can be completed in September as was planned. The 24-hour working will be confined to weeknights with the work halted on Saturday and Sunday nights.

The delays have been due to the "teeth" on the 50m long tunnelling machine as they have not been able to cope with the variety of rock types encountered underground. Each set of teeth are designed for a specific rock type and are much less efficient when used on other types. The initial surveys done predicted much greater consistency in the bedrock.

The photo below was a night shot taken showing the end of the culvert prior to it becoming flooded.

The culvert
(Click for a larger image)

The brook that runs across the bottom of the Chase grounds used to join the Rudhall Brook at Kings Acre. As a result of the works it has been diverted so that it now joins into the culvert. Because this brook also ran down a small culvert that was in very poor condition, this has been excavated so that a new pipe can be laid.

In this shot, the Broadmeadows both the temporary (foreground) and new bridges (behind) over the brook can be seen. The temporary bridge is due to be removed.

A stream of lorries have been arriving at the bund to deliver and remove various materials to and from this area as the works continue.

The main walls of the throttle have been cast. The only areas that remain to be done are the areas over the opening.

The area has been further cleared ready for continuing works.

Shuttering has been placed and concrete poured to form the base.

Because work is being carried out in the sluice area, at the exit point of the new culvert, the stream has been diverted to keep it well away from the work area.

The gravel and dirt that has fallen down the sides has been removed ready for further works to be carried out.

The grate off the old culvert has been put to the side awaiting removal.

The Kings Acre car park site at Fiveways has been cleared. The large crane has gone and the spoil clamp etc has been removed.

A large pipe has been placed in the Rudhall Brook to guide the water past the old slice area.

Fiveways/Kings Acre car park area
(Click for a larger image)

The Broadmeadows bridge is now complete and is regularly in use now that the caravan park is open for the summer.

The throttle is well under way with its construction.

The old culvert has now been replaced with a concrete slab base and the end of the new culvert.

This is a view of the left-hand front wall. The rear wall is being prepared so that the shuttering can be put up around it.

Being as this crane is not currently needed, it is being removed. The crane has had its jib removed so that it can be more easily transported.

The shuttering is now being manoeuvred around so that it can be used to form another one of the walls.

One wall has been cast and the shuttering has been removed. The stepped face has been done as the banks will be built up to the level of the stepping and then the wall will be faced with stone or a similar material.

This is the view down the rising shaft at Homs Road. The track that the train runs on, with engine is in the back shunt, can be clearly seen along with the tunnel ventilation system that runs down the shaft in the top left of the shot. The bottom left are the services, such as power and water, to the tunnelling machine. To the top right are water pumps and pipes coming up the shaft to allow any water that seeps into the shaft to be pumped out. At the top is the access tower that allows the engineers to climb down into the shaft.

In this area can be seen the trucks used to remove the spoil from the tunnelling. To the left can just be seen the sections that are used to form the tunnel walls.

This is the remaining part of the old culvert that ran from Broadmeadows to Fiveways as seen from the Broadmeadows end. The grate that prevented access to the old culvert can be seen in the middle of the shot. It is clear that very little remains of the culvert and this will soon be replaced.

The digger is backfilling over the top of the new culvert as it makes its way from Kings Acre towards Broadmeadows.

At the throttle, the preparation and construction of the shuttering is continuing.

The slab has been poured and the base of the falling shaft has been completed.

The hole in the base, top right, is there so that there is a low point in the bottom of the shaft so that water will collect there so that it can be pumped out.

In order to prevent foul water building up in the tunnel any water that seeps into the tunnel or the falling and rising shafts will be pumped out. It has to be remembered that this tunnel will only be used very occasionally; during extreme flooding situations.

The channel between the Broadmeadows Bridge at the caravan park and the Broadmeadows Industrial Estate Bridge has been completed.

The reinforcing steelwork has been positioned in the bottom of the falling shaft and the concrete slab will be poured in thus forming the base.

Shuttering is being erected so that the walls of the throttle can be poured.

The bottom of the falling shaft is having reinforcing steel put in place. This is ready for the concrete slab, that will form its base, to be poured.

Since it was sunk, the falling shaft has been pumped out to ensure it does not get flooded.

Additionally the point where the tunnel from the rising shaft in Homs Road has been prepared.

The bifurcation chamber has been covered over and the only remaining visible part is the top of the inspection hatch.

This is the new bridge on the Broadmeadows Industrial Estate. The temporary bridge that has been used during the works is to the right.

The final section/the end of the old culvert is about to be finally removed. Light can be seen through the remaining part thus showing exactly how little remains.

This is the remaining section of the old culvert from Broadmeadows to Fiveways. A small amount of water from the brook can be seen flowing out of the culvert and into the area to be occupied by the new culvert.