The £25 million project will see Severn Trent install over two miles of new pipes, upgrading many of the old Victorian sewers in the town, as well as removing the existing large sewer pipe that runs through the canal channel in Stroud. 

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), was lowered into the ground near to the Stroudwater Canal on Friday, and started tunnelling on Wednesday this week.

It will operate alongside another machine, which was launched last month in the Wallbridge area of the town.

The TBMs will reduce disruption in Stroud by crossing under dual carriageways, supermarket car parks and gas mains, as well as helping to protect wildlife habitats above ground.  

Arezoo Ilbeygi, Lead Project Manager at Severn Trent, said: 

“It’s brilliant to see our second tunnelling machine going into the ground as we push on with the next stage of this project. We’re really passionate about taking care of our environment, which is why we’re taking action in Stroud to protect homes and rivers from sewer flooding. 

“The works will not only provide increased capacity and state-of-the-art technology that’ll completely transform the waste network for generations to come but will also go further to protect the River Frome and other local watercourses as we a leading role in making our region’s rivers the healthiest they can be. 

“By using machines such as the TBM, we’re able to significantly reduce disruption caused to our customers, however we’d like to say a huge thank you to the community for their patience and understanding while we carry out these essential works.” 

The TBM has been named ‘Suzanne’, in honour of the late mother of Will Hooper, Design Team Lead at Galliford Try, Severn Trent’s Contract Partner for the project. 

Will Hooper, said: “When my Mum passed away suddenly in 2019, it left a big void in our family, with her friends and with the organisations she volunteered with. This project will deliver significant environmental benefits, something which my Mum was also passionate about. Having invested a great amount of time into the designs for this project I feel very honoured that this has been named after her.” 

Severn Trent has teamed up with Galliford Try as contract partners for this project, with the construction company taking the lead on project design and build.