Northumbrian Water is investing £11.2m to build a new sewer pipeline under a historic railway, ensuring minimal disruption to traffic and heritage.
Darlington: Northumbrian Water is kicking off a big project. They’re building a new sewer pipeline, and it’s going to cost £11.2 million. This upgrade is all about improving the wastewater network.
The new pipeline will stretch 9 kilometers. It’ll run right under the old Stockton & Darlington Railway. That railway is now part of the train line connecting Bishop Auckland and Saltburn. Plus, it runs alongside the A67. Engineers are drilling 200 meters beneath these busy routes. This way, they can install the sewer without messing up road or rail traffic.
Special contractors, Terra, are handling the drilling. They started work in March 2024, and it should wrap up by Spring 2025. The pipeline will connect Long Newton to Middleton One Row through Goosebeck.
Paul Davison, the Project Manager, shared why this project matters. He said it’s part of a national program to improve water services and protect the environment. He’s excited that they can do this without disrupting traffic or trains, especially since it’s the 200th anniversary of the heritage line.
He also mentioned how important the Stockton & Darlington Railway is to the region’s history. It played a huge role in developing passenger rail travel. They’re glad to use this tunneling method to keep the line safe.
Mark Whaley, from Esh-Stantec, added that this is the second project where they’ve used trenchless operations. This method cuts down on disruptions while they improve the sewer network. The new pipeline is set to be finished by Spring 2025.
