ONE of the biggest engineering projects ever seen in the North West is due to get under way in the spring, when work starts on a 34-mile (55km) water pipeline linking Liverpool and Manchester.
The £125m scheme will involve laying the new underground pipeline from Prescot reservoir, in Merseyside, to Woodgate Hill reservoir in Bury, Greater Manchester. It will take around two years to complete.
The pipeline – described as the motorway of the water supply network – is designed to help move water supplies around the region and will be able to carry up to 100m litres of water a day, or the equivalent of 4,000 road tankers a day.
Engineers will need to build 15 separate tunnels along the pipeline route to cross obstacles such as the M6, M61 and M66 motorways, the River Irwell and River Roch, and the West Coast railway line.
This involves the use of special tunnelling machines working at depths of up to 20 metres.
The pipeline’s route also requires liaison with more than 200 landowners and eight separate local authorities.
Warrington-based United Utilities (UU) said they were “optimistic” any disruption would be kept to a minimum, as they would be tunnelling beneath the surface. Alan Duncan, UU programme delivery manager, said: “This is one of the most ambitious pipeline projects the region has ever seen.”
The new pipeline – or aqueduct – is needed to replace the present water supply system, which dates back to the Victorian era.
The water company said the aqueduct was vital to maintain reliable water supplies for its 7m customers. It would also provide greater flexibility during drought or maintenance on other major aqueducts in the region.
Traditionally, North Wales water is fed into Merseyside while Lake District water supplies Greater Manchester, but the new aqueduct will be able to transfer water between the two conurbations in either direction.
The lead contractor for the project will be J Murphy & Sons.
The pipeline is scheduled for completion by spring 2011.
