Advisers Appointed
A team led by the international consultancy Arup is now advising the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority.
It will provide advice on all financial, engineering, legal and property matters relating to the scheme.
Danny Marshall, chair of the PTA, said: “This appointment marks a very significant step forward in implementing this much needed scheme and we look forward to working closely with Arup over the coming months.”
The advisers consist of the Newcastle office of Arup, fellow consulting engineers Posford Duvivier, legal advisers Herbert Smith, financial consultants KPMG and chartered surveyors Lamb & Edge.
• All members of the public and interested parties will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals before they are officially agreed.
Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority
(PTA)...
the body which oversees public transport issues in Tyne and Wear.
Professional Advisers...
Appointed by the PTA to develop the scheme and provide the authority with
advice on all engineering, environmental, financial, legal and property
matters relating to the tunnel.
Concessionaire...
a consortium of private firms that will build and operate the new tunnel,
and take over the running of the existing road and pedestrian/cycle tunnels.
Site Surveys
A number of surveys are currently being undertaken
along the line of the tunnel on both sides of the River Tyne.
These include an environmental
study to establish existing noise levels and air quality in areas which
may be affected by the tunnel, either in the construction stage, or as
a result of the completed scheme.
At the same time a topographical survey is taking
place to provide information on existing physical features such as roads
and buildings. Such information needs to be gathered in order to develop
the design, and to present to the Public Inquiry.
Soon, a geological survey will be undertaken. This
will consist of drilling a number of bore holes, and excavating trial
pits, along the line of the new tunnel in order to determine ground conditions.
Paul Fenwick, Assistant Engineer to the Tyne Tunnels,
said: “These surveys provide us with very important data from which accurate
assessments can be made with regard to issues such as noise and air quality.
Apart from the ground excavations, which are unavoidable, the surveys
will cause very little inconvenience.”
• The advisers believe that by May of this year
they will have concluded the investigative work and will be in a position
to put forward their findings and outline proposals.