Zutec wins digital solutions contract for Thames Tideway

Construction technology company Zutec Holding AB will supply the BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall and Balfour Beatty (BMB) joint venture with digital quality assurance solutions for the West section of the Thames Tideway Tunnel - the 'Super Sewer' that is being built under the River Thames at a cost of £3.8bn.

The 25km tunnel is designed to intercept millions of tonnes of raw sewage spills in an attempt to keep the city clean and protect both people and wildlife alike. Work began in 2015 and is expected to be complete in 2025.

As part of a four-year contract, Zutec will be providing its Quality Assurance and Snagging & Defect Management tools, which will allow the project teams to streamline inspections and provide real-time visibility around quality assurance.

This is the latest in a series of major infrastructure project wins for the construction software company, one of which includes the HS2 project headed by Skanska, Costain and STRABAG (SCS).

Tom Boland, Global Head of Digitalisation at Zutec, said due to its infrastructure track record, it has deep knowledge of the use of technology in this sphere, and knows what the pitfalls are. "As projects like this one usually have specific requirements, a cookie-cutter approach just won’t work. Our software therefore comes in very neatly on complex construction projects because it allows for easy and seamless collaboration, and is completely configurable to client needs," he said.

“Zutec will enable BMB to easily carry out and check inspections on time while in the field, provide up-to-the minute status reports and ensure standards are being maintained throughout the construction and handover process. We look forward to working with Tideway’s joint venture partners over the next several years and being part of this phenomenal project."

A giant tunnelling machine used to dig London’s super sewer needed an even larger crane to be removed from Tideway’s site in Bermondsey last month - and its work in the capital is now complete.

The Matador 3 crane arrived at Chambers Wharf close to Tower Bridge to remove Tunnel Boring Machine Ursula, which had been hoisted from the more than 60 metre-deep tunnel shaft to the surface in preparation.

Sailing up the Thames from Rotterdam, the 1,800-tonne marine crane moored by the Bermondsey site for the operation which had to work within tidal and weather constraints. 

Tideway Delivery Manager for the Eastern section, Jim Avant said: "The lifting and removal of Tunnel Boring Machine Ursula from site required months of detailed planning and collaboration across our teams as well as precise timing working within tidal conditions and in such a visible location on the river. With Ursula arriving and now departing by water, this is another example of our use of the River Thames as we deliver this major project for London.”

Tideway was shortlisted for the third year in a row at the British LGBT awards as one of the ‘Top 10 Inclusive Companies’ in April (click here).

Read more about Zutec's work in the BIM sphere in the June issue of Construction Global.