As a part of a £5.2 million Environment Agency flood alleviation scheme in Ulverston, Cumbria, FP McCann has supplied DN1800 precast concrete jacking pipes to form a brand new culvert running beneath the Furness railway line.

The Town Beck flood relief project will reduce flooding risk to almost 300 homes and local businesses, and is due for completion later this year.

Network Rail and their principal North-West regional contractor, Story Rail, have been working to construct a replacement culvert within the rail embankment near to Ulverston’s Lund Terrace. The new culvert replaces an existing culvert which has significantly deteriorated in recent years and the old culvert will be capped off upon completion of the works. Also included in the scheme at Lund Terrace is a new flood wall.

Specialist trenchless contractor AE Yates Trenchless Solutions Ltd is undertaking the pipe jacking works on behalf of Story Rail.

Prior to the commencement of the tunnel boring and under track culvert crossing works, AE Yates constructed a battered drive pit with a pre-piled back wall.

The tunnelling work was undertaken using a MH3 Herrenknecht Backactor mounted in an 1800 internal diameter shield. In total, some 50 metres of FP McCann’s DN 1800 jacking pipes each 2.47 metres long were driven. Each pipe was fitted with a stainless steel collar for added protection against water corrosion in the culvert.