Costing £100m, the tunnel will be the biggest storm water storage tunnel in Scotland and is expected to resolve water quality and reduce flooding issues at key locations in the area served by the Shieldhall Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW).

The publicly-owned utility is to construct the sewer tunnel between Queen’s Park and Craigton industrial estate via Pollok and Bellahouston parks.

It will be a major part of Scottish Water’s £250m, five-year programme of work announced in February to upgrade the wastewater network in the Glasgow area.

The upgrade is also expected to improve river water quality and the natural environment of the River Clyde and its tributaries.

In addition, it will alleviate sewer flooding and deal with the effects of increased rainfall and climate change.

At 4.65m in diameter, the tunnel is big enough to fit a double-decker bus inside and is more than five times as long as the Clyde Tunnel.

Scottish Water’s asset management director Geoff Aitkenhead, said: “The Shieldhall tunnel will resolve large-scale water quality problems in the River Clyde and its tributaries, provide aesthetic screening to overflows into watercourses such as tributaries of the Clyde and White Cart Water and reduce the risk of flooding”.

“The tunnel will increase capacity and alleviate pressure on the existing network by providing additional storm water storage.”

Map showing route of the tunnel

Welcoming Scottish Water’s announcement, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, said: “The improvement of Glasgow’s sewerage network is essential to its future economic growth, a cleaner environment and to resolve long-standing flooding issues”.

Work is expected to start in mid-2014 and take three and a half years to complete, including preparatory work, mine working consolidation and utility diversion work.

Leigh Stringer

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe