Tideway covid measures to remain in place until May 2021

London super sewer project Tideway looks set to keep ‘covid-safe’ measures in place on its sites until May 2021, despite suggestions from the government that life could return to normal after Easter if a vaccine for the disease is rolled out successfully.

The news came in an interim report from Tideway for the six
months to 30 September 2020. Tideway said the project was due to be handed over
in March 2025, nine months later than originally planned, due to a slowdown in productivity
as a result of covid-safe measures.

The 25km ‘super sewer’ is being constructed by a Bam,
Balfour Beatty and Morgan Sindall joint venture.

The handover date of March 2025 is based on an assumption
that the measures will remain in place until the start of the summer.

Total projects costs for the six-month period were £316.8m,
taking total costs relating to the tunnel at 30 September 2020 to £2.9bn. The
project is expected to cost £4.1bn on completion.

Construction work on Tideway is now over 60% complete, with
19 shafts excavated and only two remaining. Around 65% of the construction is
expected to be complete by the end of the financial year, behind the original
forecast of 70%.

The report also revealed that chief executive Andy Mitchell
and chief operating officer Mark Sneesby were accidentally overpaid £260,000
and £143,000 respectively. The directors have agreed to repay the overpayments
in full before the end of the financial year.

Tideway said: “We have reviewed our internal controls in
this area and as a result have implemented changes to improve the strength of
these controls which will prevent such incidents occurring again.”