London Linkage

McGreight, Patrick; Scott, David; Tamaro, George; ,

London Linkage

by Patrick McGreight, Sr. Tech. Dir.; Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners, Reading, England,
David Scott, Sr. Executive Engr.; Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners, Reading, England,
George Tamaro, (F.ASCE), Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, New York, NY,

Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1993, Vol. 63, Issue 7, Pg. 60-63

Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

Although it measures just 1.8 km, the Limehouse Link tunnel in London is both a complex engineering project and a gateway to urban renewal. The link is a $350 million highway tunnel connecting London's business center with the Docklands mixed-use development. The multi-billion Docklands project is part of the U.K.'s effort to revitalize 16 km of abandoned waterfront and restore the area to its early 20th century glory. The area was heavily bombed during World War II, and the docks began closing in the late 1960s. In 1981, the U.K. government established the London Docklands Development Corp. to take on the task of rebuilding the area. Transportation infrastructure is vital to the success of Docklands and a key part of that infrastructure is the Limehouse Link. From a civil engineering perspective, the link offers something of interest in virtually all disciplines of the profession. Difficult geotechnical conditions, top-down slurry-wall construction, extensive utility relocation and instrumentation, transportation of materials via the adjacent River Thames, and construction management were all part of the project, which was completed in May 1993.

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