A £207 million tunnel set for completion in 2029 may remodel Snowdonia and “improve the pure magnificence” of the world. 

Hochtief UK was awarded the electrical energy tunnel mission by Nationwide Grid to cut back the influence of overhead cables within the Welsh nationwide park, as a part of the Visible Affect Provision mission. 

Two shafts and a 3.4 km tunnel will carry electrical energy below the Dwyryd Estuary, changing 3km of Nationwide Grid’s overhead strains between Minffordd and Llandecwyn in Eryri Nationwide Park, also referred to as Snowdonia, in north Wales.

Hochtief UK’s Managing Director Lawrence Jackson mentioned: “We’re delighted to contribute with our long-standing experience in tunnelling works to preserve and improve the pure magnificence and environmental heritage of Snowdonia”.

This seven-year tunnel mission which began in 2022 reached a significant milestone on 18 November when the primary of 27 packages of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) arrived, which might be used to excavate the tunnel for the brand new electrical energy cables.

The TBM might be able to begin tunnelling in early 2025, and as soon as assembled, it would measure 166 metres and weigh 436 tonnes.

It is anticipated to succeed in its vacation spot in Llandecwyn in mid-2026, and the pylons and overhead strains are set to be eliminated in 2029.

Nationwide Grid’s senior mission supervisor for Eryri VIP Steve Ellison mentioned: “These deliveries have been many months within the planning and we work exhausting to minimise any disruption that deliveries of this type may cause.

“The actions are occurring at these instances to attempt to minimise disruption to the native highway community and we recognize the cooperation and understanding of the local people.”

The 27 deliveries spanned over a 3 week interval, transported from Germany the place it was manufactured to the mission web site in Minffordd alongside the A55, A487 and A497. 

That is Hochtief’s second tunnelling mission for Nationwide Grid, additionally in three way partnership for delivering 32 km of tunnels to produce electrical energy in London.