Category Archives: HS2

Epic HS2 update – part 1

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from HS2
We are writing to update you on some planned works in your local area.

Tunnelling in Hillingdon:
Our tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have begun their tunnelling journey to construct tunnels under Hillingdon. We expect TBM Sushila constructing the Birmingham tunnel to have passed under Ickenham Close by mid-December, with TBM Caroline in the same location in January.

The tunnel boring machines will stop for maintenance between 23 December 2022 and 4 January 2023. We will resume tunnelling on 5 January and expect TBM Sushila to pass under the Metropolitan line towards the end of January.

What we are doing
Tunnels construction so far
Our tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have begun their tunnelling journey to construct tunnels under Hillingdon. We expect TBM Sushila constructing the Birmingham tunnel to have passed under Ickenham Close by mid-December, with TBM Caroline in the same location in January.

What to expect
The tunnel boring machines will stop for maintenance between 23 December 2022 and 4 January 2023. We will resume tunnelling on 5 January and expect TBM Sushila to pass under the Metropolitan line towards the end of January.
Properties potentially affected by ground movement from tunnelling will already be aware of eligibility for a building condition survey. Our Land and Property team will write to eligible properties with information on how to book a survey. See the table below outlining when you can expect to receive this letter.
Early January 2023 – Herlwyn Avenue
Early February 2023 – Lawn Close, Almond Close, Roundways, West End Road and New Pond Parade
Please book your condition survey as soon as possible after you receive your letter. We will also send you a reminder letter approximately four weeks in advance of tunnelling nearby. Our Land and Property team will be out and about with the community engagement team. It may be possible to book a survey appointment at that time.

Keeping you updated
We will provide updates on the TBMs’ location at https://www.hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/map/
As tunnelling progresses eastwards towards Herlwyn Avenue, Lawn Close and Almond Close, Roundways, West End Road and New Pond Parade, our community engagement team will keep you regularly updated before the TBM is nearby and will follow up after it has passed, which will be no more than a few days.

How we are managing the impacts of tunnelling
TBMs are the best method for safely excavating tunnels of this type because they build the tunnel as they dig. This reduces the risk of settlement (the way ground moves around a hole after it has been dug) and minimises potential for any damage to nearby properties. The TBMs will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until the construction of the tunnel is complete.

Continuous tunnelling by TBMs has been used successfully on major projects such as Crossrail, Thames Tideway and the Northern Line Extension. Extensive knowledge and data gathered from tunnelling in similar conditions enables us to predict ground-borne noise and vibration levels. Our assessments did not predict significant ground-borne noise and vibration impacts. However, it may be possible to hear a low-level sound from the TBMs during quieter periods of time. It is unlikely vibration from tunnelling will cause damage to nearby buildings.


We will be closely monitoring tunnelling progress and will keep you updated on when it is likely that the TBMs will be passing nearby. The duration should be no more than a few days near any one property.

Monitoring taking place during tunnelling
We have installed specialist equipment along the tunnelling route to monitor ground movements before, during and after construction. The surveying team will be out and about in Hillingdon to take regular readings from the studs located in the pavements or to take readings from the equipment mounted on buildings. You may see members of the team assembling a tripod to mount monitoring equipment in order to take readings. This activity will be quiet, for a short duration and will not affect access to footpaths and driveways. We apologise in advance should this activity inconvenience or disturb you.
How are properties protected from the potential impact of our tunnelling works?

  • There are legal provisions under the HS2 Act to provide protection should any damage occur from HS2 tunnelling works or excavations.
  • Eligible properties within 30 metres of the tunnel route are entitled to a Settlement Deed, a formal legal agreement between HS2 and the property owner.
  • HS2 will be responsible for paying for any property repairs related to its works, whether the property owner holds a deed or not.
  • If your property is within the 10mm settlement zone (the area which may experience some ground movement after tunnelling), you will have been contacted three months in advance of tunnelling nearby to arrange a building condition survey. The purpose of the survey is to capture the condition of your property as close as possible to the time when tunnelling will take place.
  • If, during or following tunnelling, you believe that damage has occurred, you can contact us to let us know. As part of the assessment of a damage claim, a second comparison survey of a property may be undertaken. You can contact the HS2 Helpdesk on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk
    more info

https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/tunnelling-in-hillingdon/

Greenway allotments/Harvil site works

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From HS2:

1 HS2 Works Notification: Thames Water Works update

We are writing to update you on the Thames Water works on the allotments near The Greenway in Ickenham.

We are progressing well with our work on the allotments, and now need to bring the new sewer into use. To ensure this work is completed by Christmas, we need to work weekends from 3 – 18 December 2022.

2 Notification
Extended hours for the construction of the TBM treatment area
We are writing to update you on our works at our Gate 1 site.

What we are doing
Works are ongoing at our Gate 1 site on Harvil Road, to build the TBM material treatment area. Some of these works will need to take place during extended working hours.
We will use this area to treat the soil that will be removed from the West Ruislip portal tunnels before it is placed in its final location.

Our preparation to build the TBM material treatment area is progressing. We will start working on the construction of the treatment area from 11 December 2022 until 28 May 2023. Some of these works will need to take place during extended working hours.

We will use this area to treat the soil that will be removed from the West Ruislip portal tunnels before it is placed in its final location.

These works will pause on 23 December 2022 and restart on 3 January 2023.

For further information please see our works notification. https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/extended-hours-for-the-construction-of-the-tbm-treatment-area/

We would like to apologise in advance for any disruption or inconvenience this may cause. Every effort is being taken to ensure that these works are carried out in the least impactful way.

We will ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

Duration of works
11 December 2022 to 28 May 2023
Monday to Sunday 8am to 6pm
We may be on site for an hour before the start and/or end of the shift

What to expect
Extended working hours for portions of the work
Additional staff on site outside of core hours

What we will do
Continue to monitor our working methods and minimise disruption to the local community
Advise our staff to be mindful of our neighbours

HS2 operatives’ car park at West Ruislip

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From HS2

Car park construction at Ruislip Golf Course

We’re writing to let you know about some planned works that we will be carrying out at Ruislip Golf Course.

From 12 December 2022 to 28 January 2023, we will be carrying out work to construct a new car park for staff in the Ruislip Golf Course.

This has been approved by the London Borough of Hillingdon to assist with the reduction of operatives parking on local streets.

The car park will be in place throughout the duration of the construction project and will be restored as part as the golf course redesign.

We will be stripping away the topsoil and replacing it with a thin layer of stone.

These works will pause on 23 December 2022 and restart on 3 January 2023.

For further information please see our works notification. https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/car-park-construction-at-ruislip-golf-course/

We would like to apologise in advance for any disruption or inconvenience this may cause. Every effort is being taken to ensure that these works are carried out in the least impactful way. We will ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

HS2 tunnel spoil plans

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FROM HS2

We’re writing to let you know about some planned works that we will be carrying out in the Harvil Road area.

From 1 December 2022 to April 2023, we will begin to store TBM materials on the southern area of the Copthall Covert within our site boundary at Gate 1 on Harvil Road.

We will store and treat the soil that will be removed from the tunnels before they are placed in their final destination.

For further information please see our works notification update. https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/tbm-material-storage-on-harvil-road/

We would like to apologise in advance for any disruption or inconvenience this may cause. Every effort is being taken to ensure that these works are carried out in the least impactful way.

We will ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

Tunnel segment deliveries to West Ruislip 24/7

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from HS2

HS2 Works Notification: Update: Tunnel segment deliveries to West Ruislip 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

We’re writing to let you know about some planned works that we will be carrying out in your area.

We wrote to you recently to let you know about the launch of the newly assembled Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) at the West Ruislip Portal site.

Both TBMs have now launched and are working their way towards Greenpark Way (Ealing), which we expect them to get there in June 2024.

With the TBMs now fully operational, we need to increase the deliveries of tunnel segments to the West Ruislip site. This will mean deliveries at night as well as during the day from Thursday 10 November onwards.

For further information please see our works notification. https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/update-tunnel-segment-deliveries-to-west-ruislip-24-hours-a-day-7-days-a-week/

Duration of works
Late September 2022 to June 2024
The tunnelling and site support activities will be 24/7
Deliveries of the tunnel segments will increase to 24/7

What to expect
Increase of staff on site outside core hours
Activities associated with the tunnelling work, including removal of
excavated material, supply of materials and maintenance of tunnelling equipment

What we will do
Advise our staff to be mindful of our neighbours

Harvil Road lane closure

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from HS2

HS2 Works Notification: Update on utility and construction works on Harvil Road

We’re writing to let you know about some planned works that we will be carrying out in your area.

In August we wrote to you to let you know that we plan to complete major utility diversion works and realign a section of Harvil Road from 30 August 2022 to 5 September 2023.

We need to carry out some additional work during the school half term, from 24 to 29 October 2022. We will relocate one of our site entrances to help facilitate the Harvil Road realignment.

These works will require a lane closure.

For further information please see our update works notification.

https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/update-on-utility-and-construction-works-on-harvil-road/

We would like to apologise in advance for the disruption or inconvenience this may cause. Every effort is being taken to ensure that these works are carried out in the least impactful way.

We will ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

Your utility services will not be affected.

HS2 face-to-face 4-7pm tomorrow

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From Brian Adams (our HS2 lead):

You may be impacted by the noise and pollution from the dumping of tunnel spoil in the fields between Harvil Road and Breakspear Road South – this is yet to start and will take up to three years with tens of thousands of HGV movements.

You may be impacted by the movement of the spoil from West Ruislip to the fields above. They will be using conveyors systems 24/7 for up to three years

You may be impacted by lane and road closures planned by HS2 over the next few years

You may be impacted by HS2’s plans to bring the tunnel segments using large flatbed lorries through Ickenham village……..until the rail siding are completed at West Ruislip.

If you are interested in what HS2 and its contractors are doing in Ickenham for the next few years please go along to the United Reform Church tomorrow 18th October between 16.00 and 19.00.

You will find a list of some questions, you may wish to ask, in our previous post on the subject.

HS2 face-to-face 4-7pm 18 October

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Community event at Ickenham United Reformed Church

(Please see our local HS2 groups comments below this invite from HS2.)

From HS2 

We would like to invite you to a community information event on Tuesday 18 October 2022 from 4pm to 7pm at Ickenham United Reformed Church. Please come along to discuss our works with our local engagement team and specialists, and to find out more about:

• Plans for the land between Harvil Road and Breakspear Road South
• Tunnelling works
• Work around the West Ruislip portal  

You can drop in anytime between 4 and 7pm. 

We look forward to seeing you there.

We will be observing social distancing and may choose to wear facemasks during this engagement event. 

Our comments / notes

Re HS2 WORKS IN FIELDS BETWEEN HARVIL AND BREAKSPEAR ROAD SOUTH
 
Many residents in roads around these fields have been questioning what is taking place in these fields.
We have known since 2013 that HS2 planned  to use this agricultural  land to dump the spoil from the tunnels being created from West Ruislip towards London.

In our petitioning to the Houses of Parliament we tried to get this changed and offered alternative solutions but we were not successful.

The reality is that the works are just starting and we have several years of noise and pollution as thousands of HGVs will be driving back and forth with the spoil creating mounds up to 6 metres high.

To get the spoil to the fields there will be a conveyor system from West Ruislip which will run 24 hours/ 7 days a week. The impact will therefore be felt by many residents.

We have requested HS2/SCS the contractor to run an event in the village so that residents can get an understanding of what is happening, what are the short and long term plans and what mitigation is being put in place. This is now happening October 18 in United Reform Church between 16.00 and 19.00

Please go along and make the representatives aware of the issues you are experiencing or foresee.

We have listed below some questions you may wish to ask:

Dumping:
What is happening now?
What is happening next and all future phases ?
How long will this dumping take place?
How many HGV movements will take place?
What are working hours ?
What is in place to reduce noise and pollution?
What if the noise is intolerable…what can a resident do ?
What is the flood risk from 6 metre high clay mounds?
What happens to the fields when the dumping is finished ?
Who is responsible in the future if there are floods or earth slippages ?
 
Conveyor Systems
What will the noise impact be during the day and during the night ?
Who will be most impacted (e.g. Greenway/Hoylake Crescent/Copthall Road West) by noise ?
What are the dust pollution measures ?
What if systems fail ?
 

West Ruislip pedestrian lights 1-2 Oct

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from HS2

HS2 Works Notification: Traffic light repair on High Road Ickenham

We’re writing to let you know about some planned works that we will be carrying out in your area. 

From 7am on Saturday 1 October to 6pm on Sunday 2 October, we will carry out essential repairs to the traffic lights at the pedestrian crossing opposite the West Ruislip Station entrance.

To ensure these works can be carried out safely, the pedestrian crossing will be closed throughout and the lanes on the High Road will be narrowed.

A temporary pedestrian crossing will be in place on Ickenham Road near the HS2 site compound entrance. The cycle lane and bus stop will be maintained throughout.

We would like to apologise in advance for any disruption or inconvenience this may cause. Every effort is being taken to ensure that these works are carried out in the least impactful way.

We will ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

Tunnel Boring Machine gets to work

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FROM HS2

What we are doing
We wrote to you recently to inform you that our newly assembled Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at the West Ruislip Portal site would cut up to one metre into the concrete wall ahead of it on Tuesday 30 August.
We are now ready to launch our first TBM this month on its journey towards Greenpark Way (Ealing) which will last until June 2024.

What to expect
From late September 2022 to June 2024, we will be undertaking tunnelling works. We anticipate our second TBM will be launched in late October 2022.
Once launched, the TBM will require the following support activities at the West Ruislip Portal site. You may hear some different noises from our site as a result of these activities, but we will ensure that we adhere to the agreed working hours, noise and vibration limits set by the London Borough of Hillingdon. To minimise noise, acoustic screens and tents will be used.

Tunnel segments
The TBM operates as a self-contained underground factory – digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete wall segments and putting them into place. The segments will initially be delivered by road and stored on site. Two gantry cranes will lift the segments onto the multipurpose service vehicles which will move segments to the TBM. Initially the segments will be delivered to our site during core working hours and we will keep you informed should this change.

Conveyor system
Soil excavated from the tunnel will be used to landscape areas on each side of the Chiltern line railway. The first excavated soil will be transported by a small temporary conveyor to a designated area within the site boundary until December 2022. The temporary conveyor will operate 24/7. We will start constructing the main conveyor and will provide you with further information in due course.

Rail siding
We have started building a rail siding at our site which will enable the delivery of tunnel segments by rail from the end of 2022/early 2023. We will update you on this activity later this year.

We anticipate that any noise and vibration relating to the TBM launch and its progress underground will be minimal given that it is at least 10 metres below the surrounding ground level. This distance is measured from the crown of the tunnel and not the track bed.
You may notice different types of noise during these works.
We would like to apologise in advance for any disruption or inconvenience this may cause. Every effort is being taken to ensure that these works are carried out in the least impactful way to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

Engagement
Our engagement team are available to answer your questions about the TBM launch and our works in the following ways:
– Our Community Information Hub at the mouth of our site on Ickenham Road will be open each day from Monday 26 to Friday 30 September from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
– We are also planning a public engagement event locally and invitations will be sent out soon.

Download information relating to these works
• Launch of the Tunnel Boring Machine https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/launch-of-the-tunnel-boring-machine/