On 9 Jun, 15:13, John B wrote:
Anyone know what the major drilling, piling and concreting work is
that TfL are doing on the ELL platforms at Whitechapel station?

I'd thought that the only new work (aside from resignalling and re-
electrifying) taking place on the northern extension was west of
Vallance Road, with the line from Whitechapel to Vallance Road taking
the same route as before...


First off, the alignment south east of Vallance Road isn't changing.

Secondly, I don't know the details but it would appear that TfL are
taking the opportunity to do at least some remedial work along the
existing route - things I've noticed include:

* the replacement of the bridge that carries the line over Surrey
Canal Road was replaced not long after the line closed [1];
* the replacement of the bridge over Cold Blow Lane (adjacent to the
site of the new depot);
* the temporary closure of the road bridge that takes Cope Street over
the line just south of Surrey Quays station to allow for some sort of
major works to take place there;
* and major works on the next bridge south that takes the Rotherhithe
New Road over the line, which has resulted in this two lane one-way
street being reduced to one lane - work has very recently switched
from one lane to the other though IIRC nearby signs advise that work
will be continuing on the bridge until sometime in 2009.


So my presumption is that there are various major structural works
being done along the existing alignment. At Whitechapel perhaps the
cutting and/or the platforms are being sured up in various ways?
Someone somewhere knows for sure!


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[1] Mr Thant has documented the Surrey Canal Rd bridge replacement in
his April and May ELLX updates on his London Connections blog:
http://londonconnections.blogspot.co...tos-april.html
http://londonconnections.blogspot.co...hotos-may.html