In a remarkable feat of engineering and historical preservation, Northumbrian Water is embarking on a £11.2m project to upgrade its wastewater network, with a new 9km sewer pipeline that will pass under the original path of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. This pioneering project, which started in March 2024 and is expected to finish in the Spring of 2025, is not just about enhancing the wastewater infrastructure but also about protecting a piece of history. The railway, celebrating its 200th anniversary, is a testament to the birth of modern passenger rail travel, and the new sewer pipeline will pass under it without disturbing the heritage site. This project is a bold statement about the future of infrastructure development, where innovation meets preservation.
The innovative approach involves drilling 200 metres horizontally beneath the transport routes, to the east of Middleton St George. This method, carried out by specialist contractors Terra, allows the water company and its partners, Esh-Stantec, to install the new sewer without impacting road or rail traffic. This is not the first time Northumbrian Water has employed such techniques. In 2024, similar methods were used on a new sewer pipeline to the north of Durham, protecting traffic flows and the East Coast Main Line. The company has also used larger bore tunnelling techniques on its £155m Project Pipeline: County Durham and Tees Valley, installing new pipes under the River Tees and A68.
Paul Davison, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, emphasized the significance of the project, stating, “This project is part of our Water Industry National Environment Programme and represents significant investment not only in enhancing our network to better serve customers, but also in protecting the environment.” He further highlighted the importance of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, saying, “The Stockton & Darlington Railway is a hugely important part of this region’s history and identity and played a major role in the development of passenger rail travel as we know it today, and we are glad to have been able to use this tunnelling technique to protect the line.”
Mark Whaley, Delivery Programme Manager for Esh-Stantec, echoed this sentiment, noting, “This is the second Northumbrian Water project in recent months where Esh-Stantec has utilised trenchless operations and horizontal drilling to avoid the need to interrupt Network Rail infrastructure. This method significantly reduces disruption whilst important improvements to the sewer network are carried out.” This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in the water, sanitation, and drainage sector. It sets a precedent for future projects, demonstrating that infrastructure development can coexist with historical preservation and environmental protection.
The implications of this project are far-reaching. It challenges the traditional norms of infrastructure development, where disruption and disturbance are often seen as inevitable. By employing innovative tunnelling techniques, Northumbrian Water is not only enhancing its wastewater network but also setting a new standard for the sector. This project is a call to action for other water companies and infrastructure developers to adopt similar methods, ensuring that development does not come at the cost of history and the environment.
The project also highlights the importance of collaboration between different sectors. The partnership between Northumbrian Water, Esh-Stantec, and Terra is a testament to the power of collaboration in driving innovation and achieving common goals. This project is a reminder that the water, sanitation, and drainage sector is not just about pipes and sewers but also about people, history, and the environment. It is about creating a sustainable future where development and preservation go hand in hand.
