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The article focuses on Tottenham Court Road Underground station in central London, England. It discusses how this project which required upgradation had been one of the most fiendishly complex schemes ever tackled in the capital. It discusses how getting Tottenham Court Road Tube station in central London fit for purpose of London Underground passenger demands from the new Crossrail line is massive task which requires engineering challenge.

The article reports on the construction of the twin bore tunnel at the A3 Hindhead Improvement project of the London to Portsmouth road, England, and the use of tunnel excavators instead of tunnel boring machines (TBM). Balfour Beatty project PLC director Phil Clifton said that this method was chosen instead of TBM because it suited the ground conditions and reduced the cost. The excavation was carried out by excavator buckets to minimize air pollutants and fumes to a minimum.

The article focuses on the renovation of the East London Line in London, England. As mentioned, the biggest civil engineering challenges were at Whitechapel and Wapping as part of the need to provide all the underground stations with secondary means of escape (SMEs). The East London Line sees the first application of the Sonneville boot system of slab back. The other structures involved in the project include Gope Street Bridge, Rotherhithe New Road Bridge, and New Cross Gate Flyover.

The article focuses on the construction phase of the Crossrail railroad project in which the contractors have to make a tunnel under the River Thames in England. It informs that the tunneling contract C310 is the only contract to use mix-shield slurry tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and to have a tunnel as well as a portal. The first phase of the tunneling from Plumstead portal to a station box at Woolwich has been completed.

The article looks at the growth of the demand for expertise and innovation in the tunneling sector, in light of the growth of the design and construction of tunnels and underground infrastructure worldwide. It is inferred that the growth allows governments to find cost efficient and appropriate solutions to provide mass transportation, flood control, storage and power and water supply infrastructure. Political issues surrounding the international tunnelling industry is discussed.

The article reports on Hong Kong, China's West Island Line metro project which is facing challenges such as Lack of site space and narrow, densely populated streets. The West Island Line will extend Hong Kong subway operator MTR Corp. Ltd.'s Island Line 3km into the western district in Hong Kong Island. All tunneling contracts across the project have now been awarded.

The article focuses on the construction of the new highway traversing Albania from the Adriatic Sea to its north east border with Kosovo and on the 61 kilometer central leg of the project. Massive excavations for the route require over 1,000 pieces of earth moving equipment and muck shifting is a massive job. The route has 29 bridges and has a twin tube tunnel. The work is undertaken by a joint venture of Bechtel Corp. and Enka GmbH & Co. KG.

The article presents information on the West Ham sewer relief tunnel project in east London, England. The main construction contract has been carried out by contractor Costain under a target cost design and build contract worth 38.5M pound. Contractors are facing problems in the construction project due to other tunnels and key pieces of infrastructure like speed rail tunnel, buried power lines, densely packed streets and underground services.

The article reports on the Busan -Geoje link tunnel being constructed in South Korea and reveals that the smallest of cracks in the concrete could cause disaster for the underwater tunnel. The 3.24 kilometer length of the tunnel comprises 18 elements. Each segment is cast in a continuous 24 hour operation. Ground improvement in the sea bed was carried out using partial cement deep soil mixing, known as CDM. Here augers were used to mix cement with insitu soil to form soil-cement columns.

The article reports on the Busan-Geoje fixed link project in South Korea. Busan is a big port city and Geoje Island is the heart of the ship building industry. Though they are just 8 kilometers apart, to travel from Busan to Geoje, one must travel 140 kilometers or take a two hour ferry trip. To create a better road link, GK Corporation, a consortium led by Daewoo Engineering & Construction & Co., is building an immersed tube tunnel at 48 meters deep under public private partnership.

The article offers information on the £371 million Hindhead Tunnel project in Surrey, England. The project is a large-scale civil engineering at its finest burying a busy section of the A3 dual carriageway so that it no longer cuts through the village of Hindhead and an area of outstanding natural beauty. The tunnel will run from the north portal in a south westerly curve to the south portal effective in January 2009.

The article reports on the tunneling under the Thames river in east London, England. Former Amec tunneling director Peter South was feeling bullish as a bespoke Lovat tunnel boring machine (TBM) nosed into the ground on the first of two drives under the River Thames. Referring to his diary, South says that they had a torturous adventure under the river on the first bore.

The article focuses on the construction of London Underground's King's Cross St Pancras Underground station. London Underground has commissioned the construction of the ticket hall to increase the capacity of the station, which often has to close at peak times because of overcrowding. Work started on site in 2002, but with piling well advanced, the project stuttered to a halt in 2004 as government funding commitments wavered.

A free ICE online learning programme has been accredited for US Professional Development Hours (PDHs). ICE learning and development manager Dean Lenton added: "This eLearning programme was chosen as the ICE's first recognised PDH knowledge offering as it's currently accessed more by our global membership than any other. [Extracted from the article]

Highlights from the article: As a rather "mature" engineer with extensive experience of project management, contract administration and dispute resolution on large international projects, it was refreshing to read the opinions and comments by John Beswick and Philip Alexander (Your View, last month) with which I fully concur. The reference by Alexander to the idealistic "collaborative" forms of contract currently promoted in the UK and his realistic comments about the inevitable motivation of contractors to seek extra payments, resonates entirely with my own experience. We have superb engineers on Crossrail and throughout the UK; the failure on Crossrail has been in the management team in not reporting the true position and not managing the contractual arrangements.

The article offers information on the Crossrail Ltd.'s, construction industry's underground project, that managed with processing the complex data to monitor the surroundings and ground building in England.

The article offers news briefs related to civil engineering including the plan of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to build a solar photovoltaic plant, opening of the first stretch of road capable of generating solar electricity in France, and plans for underground streets in Hong Kong, China.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including an article on crisis over power generation in the September 11, 2014 issue; an article on sustained need for tunneling skills in the September 11, 2014 issue, and a letter on widening roads in England.

The article offers information on the shortlisted companies for the Ground Engineering and the International Tunnelling & Underground Space Association awards that will be held in London, England, on December 4, 2014. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality of Turkey is shortlisted for the Environmental Initiative of the Year award.

The article announces that upgrade projects of London Underground, London, England including the Baker Street to Bond Street Tunnel Remediation, the Victoria Line Upgrade, and the firm Balfour Beatty Rail Ltd. and London Underground's Track Partnership have received the Greatest Contribution to London award.

The article addresses the future of Thames Water Utilities Ltd.'s Thames Tideway Tunnel, a proposed construction of tunnel under the River Thames through central London, England. It states that a panel of Planning Inspectorate experts is assigned to make recommendations on the construction project. Phil Stride of Thames Water said that they are considering all possibilities for the scheme but are planning on the basis to get the development consent order.

The article presents information on the construction of the 13 storeys tall Zig-Zag commercial and retail building with a four storey basement, by Land Securities PLC on Victoria Street in London, England. It focuses on the efforts of contractors and developers to find innovative ways for building deeper basements in the city to make the efficient use of limited space. It focuses on the technical and engineering challenges involved in basement construction projects.

The article offers information on the construction of the West Island Line, transit line in China. It focuses on the mechanical and electrical work of the project. It offers information on the installation of honeycomb lift and ventilation duct structures in the shafts. It mentions that the storage space underground is limited to platforms.

The article offers information on the tunnelling and underground work related to civil engineering work by MTR Corp. Ltd., construction company in Hong Kong, China. It mentions that Nishimatsu Construction Co. Ltd. is building Nam Fung tunnel with the mixed-ground excavation and drill and blast techniques. Information on the station box excavation is presented.

The article offers information on the construction of wall rigs between the lanes of traffic, bus stops and schools in Kowloon City in China. It mentions that the noise pollution related to work in congested area is critical. It focuses on the challenges related to the traffic. It presents information on the relocation of underground services.

The article discusses the progress of the Crossrail project in London, England. During 2013, Crossrail's tunnelling was 65% complete and work is advancing on the new Crossrail stations in central London and Docklands. Contracts worth 6.5bn pound have been awarded so far to businesses, of which 97% are based in Great Britain. Crossrail is said to be Europe's biggest construction project and is among the most ambitious infrastructure schemes ever undertaken in Britain.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the previous articles including one on the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges by the Highways Agency in Great Britain, and one on the New Austrian Tunnelling Method.

The article focuses on the permanent stabilisation of the Holme rail tunnel in Lancashire, England. The effort of engineers from Network Rail Ltd. and contractor Amco Rail to start a 19 week blockade of Holme tunnel, injecting permeation grouting and installing ground anchors, to stabilise a mix of siltstones and mudstones to the tunnel's masonry lining is cited. According to Andy Dunn of Network Rail, the use of a bespoke movement monitoring system will keep the overall system performing.

The article discusses the increasing importance of the use of tunnels and underground infrastructure for transport, utilities and living, as the world population is increasing. It is stated that building downwards has become a vital need for industrial projects; and municipal authorities need to mandate that all plans for infrastructure development in cities should include a detailed study of an underground option. Underground projects are popular in Hong Kong, China, and Singapore.

The article reports updates on the construction of the Crossrail AG's fifth tunnel in North Woolwich, London, England. It details the progress of the project in which its boring provides an average rate of 100 meters a week to North Woolwich. It also mentions the huge transformation of the project through the help of huge tunneling machines. Several aerial photographs of the project area also provided.

The article focuses on the construction project for the runway extension at Birmingham Airport in England. It states that the project, which will allow direct flights to China and South America, needs to divert the A45 dual carriageway into a tunnel road. However, airport's development director Will Heynes argues that carrying out the runway extension at the same time the Birmingham City Council's vision to add a public transport at A45 has created a scheme that stands economic scrutiny.

The article reports on the efforts of Cornell University School of Civil and Environmental Engineering professor Tom O'Rourke and his colleagues in implementing flood barrier in New York City. It also mentions the support of Metropolitan Transit Authority for the call on the protection of the city's transport system. The risks for tidal surges and rising sea levels are discussed.

The article discusses the concept of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) used in project planning, design, and maintenance. It highlights the London Underground project in England that implements the model to manage the complexities involved in major tunneling innovations. It also mentions the advantage of the model since it helps contractors handle the challenges in any construction projects.

The article offers world news briefs related to civil engineering. The Greenwich Council is searching for a new team that will finish the refurbishment of the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels in London, England. Balfour Beatty PLC restructures its six businesses that will result in the scrapping of major names of the company. Energy firms Centrica PLC and Drax Power Ltd. drop plans to build three new biomass plants due to the lack of support in the government.

The article reports on a major programme of compensation grouting among Crossrail AG project teams in London, England. It is stated that widespread compensation grouting is being undertaken with some of the major elements being carried out to mitigate the impact of the tunneling. It is noted that plenty of hours were put into working out the drilling and grouting regime before contracts were awarded in January 2011.

The article presents news briefs related to civil engineering. Crossrail AG workers have reached the base of the two huge launch shafts in east London where tunnel boring machines will be lowered before tunnelling starts. The construction industry will not grow until 2014. Management consultant AT Kearney Ltd. claims annual global spending on capital projects has returned to pre-2008 levels at between 11 trillion dollars and 12 trillion dollars.

The article reports that Great Britain's transport secretary Justine Greening is supporting an amended scheme related to High Speed 2 (HS2) line, which include additional tunneling through Chiltern Hills, England, and other sensitive locations. It is mentioned that the project of creating the entire Y network from London to Birmingham and then to Manchester and Leeds, England will now cost around 32.7 billion pounds.

The article offers information on tunneling program of Crossrail Ltd. in Great Britain.It states that first two vast machines are scheduled to begin the task of snaking their way eastwards from the Royal Oak portal in west London in the first three months to form the twin tunnels to Farringdon. It mentions Crossrail team has just finished an exercise that involved creating a day by day plan aniticpating the situation on the city's streets during the Games.

The article focuses on risk reduction in the construction industry. Workers fixing reinforcing cages with steel wire have been the most vulnerable on construction sites, facing high risks from tripping on steel reinforcement. Tunnelling is getting safer and safer, with more and more men being taken out of the environment completely.

The article reports on a confirmation by proposed Thames Tunnel Project promoter Thames Water that project costs had risen again to 4.1bn pound. It is noted that the route of the River Thames from west London to Abbey Mills pumping station in east London is followed by proposed 22km long tunnel. It is stated that the project is estimated to add between 70 and 80 pound to Thames Water customers' bills annually.

The article offers news briefs related to civil engineering in Great Britain. Construction of the first Crossrail tunnel portal in West London, England was completed in October 2011. Engineers were racing to complete repairs to a railway track and overhead cables in Norfolk, England following a collision in September 2011. Atkins Ltd. has been selected by U.S. client the National Park Service as construction manager for the Statue of Liberty National Monument enhancement in New York City.

The article offers news briefs related to civil engineering works in Great Britain. The National Grid will be able to balance supply and demand more effectively through a European energy "supergrid." Legal action against contractors Lend Lease and Parry Bowen will be taken by construction union the Union of Construction, Allied Trades & Technicians over Olympic Village workers.

The article offers information on the construction of the 7km Lee Tunnel project for Thames Water in London, England which is being built by Vinci Construction Grands Projets. As reported, the tunnel is part of the 4.9bn pounds Thames Tideway Improvements project planned by Thames Water. The project involves two new tunnels and five upgraded wastewater treatment works along the River Thames.

The article reports that Thames Water Utilities Ltd. has approached water specialist CH2M Hill Inc. to work with the Crossrail project to protect its water pipes during construction. CH2M Hill and its Delivery Partners Hyder Consulting and Arcadis NV have been given the responsibility for assessing the scale of movement and damage to the network of Victoria mains pipes.

The article reports that 2011 International Tunnelling Awards will be held in Hong Kong, China, following the successful launch of the International Tunnelling Awards in 2010. It mentions that the event has been moved to Hong Kong to underline the global nature of the tunnelling business. It includes the list of different categories for 2011 awards.

The article offers information on Atkins Group, the winner of the 2011 ACE/NCE Outstanding Achievement Award. As reported, Atkins successfully completed the first stage of Gautrain, South Africa's high-speed rail network linking Pretoria and Johannesburg, in time for the 2010 World Cup. Atkins was given the responsibility for designing 15km of tunnels, three underground stations, seven emergency shafts and the route alignment for the whole system.

The article reports on the plans to build the Shatin to Central Link rail project in Hong Kong, China. It will connect the busy financial district of Hong Kong to the remote Northern New Territories. The construction is expected to start in 2012 and involves constructing twin running tunnels from Shatin, north of downtown Hong Kong through the Lion Rock and, south to Hung Horn Station by Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour.

The article offers information on Hong Kong subway operator MTR Corp. Ltd.'s plans to build five major construction projects in Hong Kong, China. It is involved in the construction of the 547 billion pound Hong Kong section of the underground high speed line from West Kowloon to the border with mainland China. The other projects of the company is also discussed.

The article presents information on high speed rail project which will connect Hong Kong to mainland China. As reported, work on the high speed line, which is being managed on behalf of the Hong Kong government by metro operator MTR Corp. Ltd., has gathered pace over the last 12 months. This project will provide a 26km wholly underground link between the Kowloon terminus to Huanggang in Shenzhen in China.