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Donegan Civil Engineering

Strategic Transfer Sewer Tunnelling – Paisley, Renfrewshire

1.5km of micro tunnel pipejacking forming a new strategic transfer sewer through Paisley, Renfrewshire

By: Valentine Donegan

Published: August 6, 2026

Strategic Transfer Sewer Tunnelling - Paisley, Renfrewshire

Client: Amey / Byzak / Scottish Water

Value: Approx. £4,200,000

Project Description / Main Operations

The aim, needs and function of the transfer sewer included general upsizing and replacement, sewer flood alleviation, in-line detention and storm storage, and water quality improvements to local rivers and burns, including the White Cart Water and Espedair Burn.

Overall the contract consisted of the installation of 1.6km of pipeline designed as a new strategic transfer sewer running through northern, central and southern Paisley, Renfrewshire. Other works on the project, carried out by others, included abandonment of existing CSOs and the construction of new screened CSO chambers and subsidiary connection pipework.

The scope of the works for V J Donegan & Co Ltd was to undertake all tunnelling sections of the project, 1.5km of sections varying in diameter, comprising 1000mm, 1200mm and 1500mm diameter micro tunnel pipejacks.

Scope and method:

Three Herrenknecht AVN slurry type pipejacking machines utilised on the project, of 1000mm, 1200mm and 1500mm diameter.
The smaller diameter machines delivered drives from 50m to 200m in length.
The 1500mm diameter machine delivered the final and longest single drive of 285m, beneath Saucehill Park and the adjoining properties and businesses.
13 pipejacks undertaken in all, including crossings under roads, highways, rivers and a rail crossing beneath the Paisley Canal Line.

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

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