{"id":883,"date":"2026-10-10T02:04:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T02:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/?p=883"},"modified":"2026-10-10T02:09:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T02:09:10","slug":"thames-cable-tunnel-breakthrough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/thames-cable-tunnel-breakthrough\/","title":{"rendered":"National Grid Completes 2.2km Thames Cable Tunnel Breakthrough 49 Days Ahead of Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

National Grid has completed the Thames cable tunnel breakthrough<\/a> beneath the River Thames, finishing the 2.2km tunnel drive 49 days ahead of schedule, according to New Civil Engineer. The Herrenknecht mixshield tunnel boring machine, named Caroline, achieved the breakthrough on Sunday 27 September 2026, linking the tunnels between Tilbury in Essex and Gravesend in Kent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 400kV cable tunnel is a centrepiece of National Grid’s Grain to Tilbury project, part of its wider Great Grid Upgrade programme. Once energised, the tunnel will replace the ageing 1960s Thames Cable Tunnel and strengthen high voltage electricity transmission between Kent and Essex. The new underground route for high voltage circuits will run between the Isle of Grain and Tilbury, relieving congestion on the existing overhead lines that currently carry power across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Grid says the early finish was no accident. Careful planning, favourable ground conditions, proven tunnel boring machine performance, and well coordinated logistics all contributed, supported by a dedicated separation plant that processed the excavated material as the machine advanced. The result gives the programme valuable breathing room for the works that follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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