Took a trip to King George V the other day, and was initially
surprised to see a very substantial concrete wall across the formation
beyond the buffer stops, separating the operational DLR from the
construction site. I would have expected a steel mesh fence of the
type which normally surrounds construction sites.

My initial thought was that it was there to protect the DLR from
flooding in the event of a tunnel breach during construction, but the
lie of the land suggested that the trackbed at that point was well
above the normal river level. I can only think that, being east of the
Thames Barrier, it's a temporary part of the Thames flood defences
and will be removed when the barriers either side of the extension -
on both sides of the river - are complete. Does that sound about
right?

Steve Adams

"Steve" wrote in message
oups.com...
Took a trip to King George V the other day, and was initially
surprised to see a very substantial concrete wall across the formation
beyond the buffer stops, separating the operational DLR from the
construction site. I would have expected a steel mesh fence of the
type which normally surrounds construction sites.

My initial thought was that it was there to protect the DLR from
flooding in the event of a tunnel breach during construction, but the
lie of the land suggested that the trackbed at that point was well
above the normal river level. I can only think that, being east of the
Thames Barrier, it's a temporary part of the Thames flood defences
and will be removed when the barriers either side of the extension -
on both sides of the river - are complete. Does that sound about
right?


Is it what they call the 'launch chamber' for the tunnel boring machine? I
believe the TBM has to initially jack itself forward towards the tunnel
face, once its sufficiently far into the tunnel for the lining to be
installed, it then moves forward against the lining IYSWIM.

Paul

On 20 Jun, 14:49, "Paul Scott" wrote:
Is it what they call the 'launch chamber' for the tunnel boring machine? I
believe the TBM has to initially jack itself forward towards the tunnel
face, once its sufficiently far into the tunnel for the lining to be
installed, it then moves forward against the lining IYSWIM.

Its too far away from the tunnel entrance for that. My guess is its
just to keep dirt and noise out of the station as much as possible and
to make it look a bit neater. Compared to the price of the extension
as a whole the price of a 20 foot concrete wall is peanuts.

B2003