'Pivotal moment' for flood tunnel under Sheffield Forgemasters to avoid repeat of 2007
“We have reached a pivotal point in our flood alleviation works as we start driving a tunnel across our site to join two large storm-water shafts”
A 350-yard tunnel is being bored under Sheffield Forgemasters to avoid a repeat of the devastating floods of 2007.
The six-foot diameter tunnel will transfer storm water from Bagley Brook under the steelworks and Brightside Lane to a huge holding tank next to the River Don.
The £19m project aims to avoid a repeat of the flooding in June 2007 when the site was submerged by 6ft of water and more than 50 staff were trapped.
Some areas resumed operations within a few weeks but full recovery took around six months and cost £16m.
Gareth Barker, chief operating officer at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “We have reached a pivotal point in our flood alleviation works as we start driving a tunnel across our site to join two large storm-water shafts.”
The flood project includes two huge shafts to hold water and a pumping station.
Forgemasters, which is owned by the MoD, is having a £900m upgrade which includes a new 13,000 tonne forging line, which is currently under construction adjacent to the Midland Mainline railway.