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Donegan Civil Engineering

2300mm Sewer Diversion for the Mersey Gateway – Ditton Road, Widnes

Diversion of a 2300mm diameter sewer through contaminated ground, with 460m of 2100mm diameter pipejacked tunnel

By: Valentine Donegan

Published: August 6, 2026

2300mm Sewer Diversion for the Mersey Gateway - Ditton Road, Widnes

Client: United Utilities

Value: Approx. £4,800,000

Project Description / Main Operations

Diversion of a 2300mm diameter sewer whilst maintaining flows, required to facilitate the construction of the new Mersey Gateway Bridge.

Particular challenges included tunnelling through contaminated ground with hydrogen sulphide present. For this operation, the underground personnel wore hooded masks with an air supply fed continuously to them from the surface.

Scope and method:

Diversion of a 2300mm diameter sewer whilst maintaining flows.
Construction of 4 no. segmental shafts, 6.00m and 7.50m diameter.
Completion works to the above, including reinforced concrete bases, benching, backdrops and precast concrete roof slabs.
Abandonment of existing sewers up to 2300mm diameter.
Construction of a 2100mm diameter tunnel approx. 460m in length, by pipejacking techniques using a backacter tunnelling machine.

For More Information, contact us at http://www.donegan.co.uk

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