Thames Water is starting work on a major upgrade of the 160-year-old Northern Outfall Sewer in Stratford - the giant Victorian sewer in East London is being upgraded as the water company continues its investment in infrastructure across the capital.
Inside the Northern Outfall Sewer at nearby Wick Lane
Work on the Northern Outfall Sewer, where it passes under Stratford High Street along the line of the Greenway, is starting today – a temporary 7.5-ton weight restriction has been placed on the road to keep Thames Water's engineers safe. Fire engines and Transport for London (TfL) buses have been granted a special exemption and will be able to travel along High Street as normal.
Location of the Northern Outfall Sewer as it passes under Stratford High Street
As it crosses Stratford High Street, the sewer comprises eight huge pipes, each around 1.6 metres high and 2.4 metres wide. Wastewater flows through at a rate of up to 20,000 litres per second.
In addition, a temporary 7ft width restriction at the start of the eastbound Bow Flyover will prevent vehicles over 7.5t from entering High Street, funnelling them instead onto Bow Roundabout and the diversion along the A12.
The 7.5t weight limit, and a new temporary 20mph speed limit along High Street, will be enforced by traffic cameras, and will be in place for up to 30 months for the duration of Thames Water’s crucial repair works.
Richard Smith, Thames Water project manager, said:
“The Northern Outfall Sewer is just one of the many thousands of miles of sewers built by the Victorians across London.
“Their engineering is truly incredible, but climate change and population growth are putting huge pressures on this ageing network.
“The Northern Outfall Sewer supplies Europe’s largest sewage works at Beckton, which treats the waste of more than four million Londoners, so we need to make sure the pipes continue providing this vital service for at least another 160 years.”
Beckton Sewage Works forms a key part of London’s new super-sewer, the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
When it opens in 2025, the 15-mile-long tunnel will intercept at least 94 per cent of the millions of tonnes of sewage that overflows into the Thames every year.
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