Tunnelling Project Team of the Year

This award seeks to recognise a team involved in the construction of tunnels or tunnelling related infrastructure that have excelled in collaboration, delivery and problem solving.

Align JV and Bouygues Travaux Publics

The Align JV has worked as part of the C1-Align an Integrated Project Team to construct the twin bore 16.1km Chiltern Tunnels in 33 months, achieving all milestones set by the client. An attitude of openness and collaboration has been fostered on the project from day one by the leadership team which has ensured excellent productivity and minimal delays. Innovation has taken a forefront in the team’s mind on the project, with the aim of increasing safety and efficiency. All tunnelling related activities occurred on site, from the production of 112,500 precast segments, to the landscaping of 3 million cubic metres of excavated material. This ensured that there was smooth collaboration between all site entities to help guarantee successful project delivery. Align has helped to upskill six miners into new TBM operators, and has trained two separate groups of apprentices with their labour supplier TG Tunnelling.

Balfour Beatty Vinci Joint Venture

Balfour Beatty VINCI is a joint venture (JV) working to construct a key section of HS2, Britain’s new high-speed rail line. BBV is delivering 90km of route in the Midlands; between Long Itchington in Warwickshire, to the centre of Birmingham and on to Handsacre in Staffordshire where trains will join the West Coast mainline. The JV works as part of an integrated project team (IPT) alongside its design joint venture (DJV) and client HS2 Ltd. The section we are building is referred to IPT Area North. BBV recognizes that successful projects extend beyond technical achievements. We understand that a strong community focus, fostering a collaborative and experienced team, is key to achieving outstanding results. This philosophy is exemplified by the BBV tunnelling team's successful delivery of the first two bored tunnels for HS2, ahead of schedule for the second drive.

Barhale

Outstanding planning, design and execution underpinned a remarkable performance from the Barhale team delivering the complex enabling and diversionary works for the development of Euston station in central London. Working in densely congested ground (including an historic graveyard) and facing the additional challenge of operating in and around a major urban transportation hub, Barhale undertook an extensive programme of utilities infrastructure works. Barhale’s team drew upon its extensive tunnelling experience and worked closely with the primary contractor, Mace Dragados, and Thames Water to improve upon the reference design and introduce innovations that streamlined tunnelling operations. Throughout the project, the team demonstrated flexibility and agility to accommodate the “stop/go” nature of the works. During tunnelling operations, the team worked 24/7 to minimise disruption and ensure critical third-party assets were protected. Against a challenging operational backdrop, through innovation and commitment, Barhale’s team delivered an outstanding project to budget and schedule.

Dr. Sauer & Partners

Dr. Sauer & Partners, long considered industry leaders in complex sprayed concrete detailed design and construction support, has been increasing its scope of expertise in recent years. Applying the same attention to detail and collaborative approach that has served us well working with contractors at the tunnel face, in the last year we have delivered services ranging from feasibility proposals for London Underground, mining solutions for Anglo American’s Woodsmith Mine, geotechnical and tunnelling temporary works design across HS2, and working with heritage architects to propose new façades for listed buildings. The team is known for not only being trustworthy and reliable, but also approachable, pragmatic, and easy to work with. Clients and collaborators repeatedly recognise that a team is stronger with DSP involved.

Joseph Gallagher and Haji Hassan Group

The Zinj Trunk Sewer Project (ZTS) in Bahrain, led by the Haji Hassan Group and Joseph Gallagher Ltd, showcases a pioneering "One Team" approach to construction, navigating significant technical and environmental challenges. Tasked with installing over 2,500 metres of microtunnels and constructing secant piled shafts, the project navigates significant environmental challenges, particularly the historically high artesian water pressures impacting local agriculture. The project emphasises rigorous environmental management, innovative tunnelling techniques, and a strong emphasis on health, safety, and environmental standards, blending UK and Bahraini practices. Despite initial setbacks, such as a 60-day delay due to aquifer-related issues, the project is on track to complete on schedule thanks to strategic accelerations. This collaborative effort includes a diverse team from multiple nationalities, working cohesively despite cultural differences, and is a beacon of international cooperation and engineering excellence.

Skanska Costain Strabag Joint Venture

We currently have a tunnelling team of over 1000 people working on four TBMs and four SCL sites. Our TBMs have advanced over 14km, installing 48,000 tunnel segments, created 12 cross passages and excavated nearly 2 Million tonnes of spoil; in parallel our SCL team have completed 450 metres of running tunnel with an average diameter of 12m. Additionally, two TBMs are part assembled and one has completed its drive and been disassembled. Though active Collaboration we have established a culture of knowledge sharing though our weekly KS sessions, peer-to-peer site exchanges and the talent management programme. Our team has proved to be both agile and robust in dealing with ‘public’ challenges. We have embraced the use of eMSVs; supporting suppliers and the HSE in defining future eMSV tunnelling standards. Our client has the confidence that we ‘have the ‘technical knowledge, skills and expertise to deliver this complex mega project’ 

The Highways Department of HKSARG, Arup Mott MacDonald Joint Venture and Bouygues Travaux Publics

The Central Kowloon Route – Central Tunnel is logistically demanding tunnelling project, featuring two tunnels, each 2.8km long and accommodating three lanes of traffic. This project showcases exceptional engineering prowess, involving the excavation of approximately 3 million tons of material and the construction of around 300,000 m3 of permanent concrete works beneath the vibrant Kowloon District in Hong Kong. Despite its urban location, surrounded by reservoirs, hospitals, residential buildings, gas drums, and four active metro lines, the team has risen to the technical challenges. Ingeniously, all construction activities are efficiently supported by three vertical shafts, including two 40m shafts and a central 107m deep shaft. From the very beginning, this project has been recognized as an extraordinary engineering feat, given its magnitude, numerous stakeholders, and complex construction constraints.