KMI, which comprises Kier, Murphy and Interserve, is building 8km of tunnels at a cost of £114m for United Utilities to stop wastewater flowing into the River Ribble during heavy storms.
Hydraulic jacks are used to push specially designed pipes through the ground behind the micro tunnel boring machine (TBM). At the same time the rotating head cuts the rock and diverts the rock chippings to the back of the TBM where it is recovered via skips.
Eventually all five micro tunnels will connect to ahuge 3.5km storm storage tunnel that has already been constructed between Preston and Penwortham.
The scheme will bring environmental improvements to the Fylde coast bathing waters and designated shellfish beds located within the Ribble Estuary.
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