Tunnelling work that is being carried out from a compound near the ‘duck pond’ in Bradley Stoke’s Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve is set to intensify from tomorrow (Wednesday 13th September) as contractors switch to 24-hour working for a critical phase of the project.
The work is associated with the latest chapter in Wessex Water’s Frome Valley Relief Sewer (FVRS) project, which involves laying a 5km long, 1.8m diameter sewer pipe between Iron Acton and Bradley Stoke.
A Wessex Water spokesperson said:
“Excavation of the access shaft is now complete and we have been successfully tunnelling towards the M4. We have now moved onto the next phase in our work which will involve tunnelling under the motorway. To ensure this important work goes smoothly we will be revising our construction working hours to 24 hours a day, seven days a week between Wednesday 13th and Friday 22nd September.”
Statement on the Wessex Water website
During this period of work:
- We will do everything we can to ensure minimal disruption while we carry out our night work as quickly as possible
- Only essential maintenance and construction activities will be carried out between 6pm and 7am
- Material deliveries and removal of excavated material will be limited to normal working hours
- Lighting will be positioned to minimise impact on local housing
- Acoustic sound barriers will be used where required
Once we have installed the sewer under the M4, we will revert to our normal working hours.
While we carry out the work we will take care to protect the natural habitats and environment of the local wildlife. Once our work is complete we will return the area to the condition in which we found it.
We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this work may cause.
Photo: Site compound near the ‘duck pond’ in the nature reserve.
Image: Illustrative cross-section showing the tunnel passing under Hortham Brook, ‘the Tump’ and the M4 motorway.
For more information about the Frome Valley Relief Sewer scheme, visit www.wessexwater.co.uk/fromevalley
