Skanska Construction Group has combined its civil engineering, piling and design expertise to win the £105 million Stratford Box contract on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. This is the first major civil engineering scheme to be awarded by Union Railways on the second section of the high-speed route linking London with the Channel Tunnel.
The project is on the critical path of the route and involves the construction of a massive below ground structure in which Stratford International Station will be built. It is geotechnically challenging with tunnels due to be constructed to the east and west of the one kilometre-long box once it is completed.
The box will measure 50 metres across and be excavated to depths of 25 metres. Skanska¡¦s contract includes the construction of two new railway bridges, each one kilometre long, which cross the length of the box as well as a ramp and viaduct.
Spoil from the excavation of the box and tunnels, totalling roughly 1.8 million cubic metres, will be spread in the Stratford area by Skanska to raise land by up to eight metres for subsequent development.
Several factors contributed to Skanska winning the Stratford Box contract.
„h It currently has a team constructing a complex section of the CTRL route in Ashford, Kent, which will transfer to Stratford.
„h It has a good track record in this type of construction having completed similar propped piled large box construction on the A12-M11 Link Road in east London and at Ashford.
„h Skanska also has the in-house design and deep excavation expertise needed to support the main contract. Skanska Technology, the company¡¦s design arm, will provide Permanent Works design detailing and piling specialist, Cementation Foundations Skanska, will construct diaphragm walls and carry out associated piling in a major sub contract.