NOTICES have been published inviting interest for two main tunnelling contracts for Crossrail. The contracts up for grabs are for westbound tunnel from Canary Wharf to Paddington and for the parallel eastbound tunnel the other way.

NOTICES have been published this week inviting interest for two main tunnelling contracts for Crossrail.

The contracts up for grabs are for westbound tunnels from Canary Wharf and Whitechapel in East London, burrowing under the City and West End to Paddington in West London, and for the parallel eastbound tunnel the other way.

Publication of the notices in the Official Journal of the European Union marks the beginning of the procurement’ process with tenders set to be invited around November with contracts awarded by the middle of next year.

Main construction begins next year, with the first of the tunnel boring machines beginning in late 2011.

There are also other contracts including a launch chamber’ at Stepney Green where drilling machinery is to be assembled for tunnelling through to Pudding Mill Lane towards Stratford, about two miles east.

A total 14 miles of twin-bore tunnelling is needed for London’s new super tube’ which will eventually link Heathrow Airport and Maidenhead in the west to Stratford and Abbey Wood in the east.