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Donegan Civil Engineering

Cable Tunnel in Dolerite – Dewar Place, Edinburgh

A 200m segmental tunnel driven through dolerite of up to 190MPa in the centre of Edinburgh

By: Valentine Donegan

Published: August 6, 2026

Cable Tunnel in Dolerite - Dewar Place, Edinburgh

Client: Scottish Power

Project Description / Main Operations

V J Donegan & Co Ltd completed this project direct for Scottish Power in the centre of Edinburgh. The purpose of the project was to bring a new high voltage cable in through the tunnel to feed the new electrical sub-station.

The drive shaft was constructed within a communal garden in a residential area, with the reception shaft located within what would become the new electrical sub-station. A specially designed roadheader tunnel boring machine was procured for the project, which involved tunnelling through dolerite sub-volcanic rock with strengths recorded of up to 190MPa.

Scope and method:

Construction of a 6.00m diameter drive shaft approx. 24m deep.
Construction of a 6.00m diameter reception shaft approx. 13m deep.
Construction of a 2.10m diameter segmental tunnel approx. 200m in length, with a 90m radius curve along the line.
Procurement and operation of a specially designed roadheader tunnel boring machine for tunnelling through dolerite of up to 190MPa.

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

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