Work started on the project in April 2012 to construct a 40m-deep reinforced concrete wall around the perimeter of the new station. Crossrail, Costain Skanska JV and subcontractor Cementation Skanska worked round the clock for 11 months to install the 165 individual diaphragm wall panels and 51 plunge columns to form a box 265m long by 22.5m wide.
The project’s 150m-long tunnel boring machines had to pass through the walls of the station as part of their journey between Royal Oak and Farringdon, which meant the team had to meet tight deadlines.
“One of the biggest challenges we encountered was completing the required minimum proportion of wall ahead of the approaching tunnel boring machines,” said project director Rupert Shingleton. “A failure to get this done on time would have meant serious delays elsewhere on the programme.”
After the outer walls were completed, the team then put in place 60m x 1.8m diameter central columns to support to the station roof and provide ground anchorage to the box.
The new Crossrail Paddington Station will be 260m long, 30m wide and 30m deep.
Mr Shingleton added: “We can now turn our attention to constructing the station roof slab which in turn releases two major work fronts. We are now focusing on reopening of Eastbourne Terrace in February 2014 and beginning excavation down to the platforms.”
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
