Breakthrough in Ross flooding project

8:39am Tuesday 2nd September 2008

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TUNNELLING work on the multi-million pound Ross-on-Wye flood alleviation project has made a breakthrough.

The 53-tonne machine used to burrow a 400- metre long tunnel to help prevent flooding from the Rudhall and Chatterley brooks has broken through the surface.

Project manager Ken Henderson said: “The tunnel has been more difficult than we first thought because the rock was very hard in places but we are delighted to have broken through at the other end.”

The 2.1 metre diameter tunnel runs between Kings Acre and Homs Road car parks, and a falling shaft and a rising shaft connect the tunnel to the watercourses.

The falling shaft in Kings Acre car park has a depth of more than 12 metres and a six-metre diameter circular weir within a 10.3-metre diameter outer chamber linked to the Chatterley Brook.

When water in the Chatterley Brook reaches the top of the weir, water entering the outer chamber will start to flow over the weir, enter the falling shaft and flow along the tunnel below.

Once full, water will pass through the tunnel and up through the rising shaft to emerge over a weir which will be constructed by Rudhall Brook opposite the end of Rope Walk.

Will Frecknall, site supervisor for Amey Consulting, said: “Once the scheme is complete, the car park will be returned to its original state and no-one will know the tunnel is there, but it will be working when high rains come, to prevent a repeat of the devastating floods of 2000.”

The scheme, which is being funded by the Environment Agency, is scheduled for completion at the end of the year.