The final shipment of excavated material from Crossrail tunnelling has been delivered to Wallasea Island in Essex, where it is forming a new RSPB nature reserve.
Over the course of the project, 1,528 shipments of spoil have been delivered to the site, amounting to three million tonnes. Contributing to Crossrail’s sustainability strategy, nearly 80% of the material was transported by rail and water - the equivalent of 150,000 lorries.
The new wetland nature reserve is twice the size of the City of London, and provides a new flood defence. This last delivery of spoil will be used to complete the first area of the reserve, and allow the sea wall to be breached for controlled flooding to take place in the summer.
“As well as providing the material that makes this project possible, Crossrail has demonstrated a bold and inspired vision for the way in which industry and conservation sectors can work together for the benefit of people and wildlife,” said RSPB Chief Executive Mike Clarke.
More than six million tonnes of material will have been excavated by Crossrail in total. 99% of it has been reused or recycled - aside from the half that has been donated to the RSPB, the remainder is being used for agricultural land and recreational facilities.
See more on this story:
- Strictly for the birds (from RAIL 769)
- Gallery - Wallasea Island Nature Reserve
- Gallery - Wallasea Island Nature Reserve in progress
- Gallery - Wallasea Island Nature Reserve wildlife
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