Strood and Higham Tunnels, Kent, UK

GeO Piezometers (installation, monitoring and reporting)

Status: Completed

The tunnels carved through the chalk between the towns of Strood and Higham in north Kent form an important part of the local mainline railway.  Converted from an infilled canal they did, until recently, regularly flood causing the railway to close.

In November 2002 Geotechnical Observations installed 13 flushable piezometers at 200m centres along the centreline of the tunnels. The installation work was undertaken during a 12 hour possession and required two teams of workers (one for each tunnel). Boreholes were prepared with a ballast sampler and the piezometers (which had been specially set up before the possession began) were installed and grouted into place in one shift. Data was recovered during subsequent possessions and the results were used for the design of drains to assist in preventing the tunnels from flooding.

Geotechnical Observations Limited
Brunel Science Centre
Coopers Hill Lane, Egham
Surrey, TW20 0JZ, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1784 473733
Fax: +44 (0)1784 473734
Email: info@geo-observations.com
Web: www.geo-observations.com