Northumbrian Water is investing a total of £16 million in two new pipelines to add resilience and capacity and enhance the existing sewer network and help to protect the environment in Teesside. 

Construction work which will run for 12 months has already started on an £11.2 million 9km pipeline to connect Long Newton with Middleton One Row, via Goosebeck

The project will use innovative techniques to ensure the work protects not only the environment, but also key transport routes and heritage sites. Specialist engineering contractors will work with Northumbrian Water and its partner, Esh-Stantec, to tunnel beneath the A67, the Northern Line railway and the historic route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

Work is also starting this month on a £4.8 million, 3km pipeline connecting the company’s sewage treatment works (STW) at Kirklevington with a pumping station at Yarm. The project will also see Kirklevington STW replaced with a pumping station, reducing works traffic in the area.

Again, the work will be done in partnership with Esh-Stantec, a joint design and build venture between contractor, Esh Construction, and global sustainable design firm, Stantec. It is due to complete in March 2025.

Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, David Greensmith said:

“These two projects represent a significant investment in enhancing our network to better serve our customers, and in protecting the environment as part of our Water Industry National Environment Programme commitments.”

David Pratt, Esh-Stantec divisional director, commented:

“As with all Esh-Stantec schemes, we are committed to a customer-focussed approach to ensure residents and businesses are kept fully up to date throughout. By utilising innovative tunnelling works – an approach used on a similar scheme in the County Durham area – we will significantly reduce disruption to both road and rail users while delivering important improvements on the Teesside sewer network.”

Denis O’Brien Esh-Stantec design programme manager added:

“These projects are vital to support our environmental responsibilities. While tunnelling will reduce disruption to transport links, it will also minimise the levels of embodied carbon from the pipeline’s construction, as will the reuse of existing assets. This is yet another example of the Esh-Stantec venture sharing knowledge, expertise and best practice to support smarter water networks in the North East.”