Lanes on-board with Sewer Relining Expertise For Tram Route

Lanes Group has been commissioned to reline sewer pipes along the route of a tramline being constructed in Nottingham.

The company’s Reline Division has already used its trenchless pipe rehabilitation expertise to line 800m of foul water sewer pipe.

Drainage infrastructure is being upgraded as part of the project to build the 17 km Nottingham Express Transit (NET) Phase 2 tram extension.

Chris Norbury, Area Development Manager for Lanes Group’s East Midlands depot in Derby, said: “We’ve completed four separate reline projects.

“So far, we’ve used a cure in place pipeline (CIPP) technique on pipes ranging in diameter from 225mm to 600mm.”

Severn Trent has been overseeing the pipe rehabilitation work, which is being carried out in close consultation with the tram project contractors Taylor Woodrow Alstom.

Lanes Group is also carrying out all drainage survey work along the NET Phase 2 routes, which run from the western suburbs of Chilwell and Clifton into Nottingham city centre.

Chris Norbury said: “This has been a major undertaking. The survey work has so far taken 18 months, surveying around 400m of pipe a day, and it’s not yet completed.

“The pipes range from 100mm to 750mm in diameter plus some underground culverts big enough to drive a car along.

“One of the biggest challenges has been to avoid disrupting local householders. The tram lines are being laid through residential areas, so controlling noise and other potential nuisances has been of paramount importance.

“The survey and rehabilitation programme is designed to make sure utility services along the NET Phase 2 routes are in optimum condition before the tram service opens.

“We have been very pleased to have been invited to work on such a prestigious and important infrastructure project.

“As the UK’s largest independent specialist underground pipeline and utilities service provider, Lanes Group has significant experience working on such large multi-partner programmes.”

NET’s extension, which is due to open at the end of 2014, will more than double the size of Nottingham’s tram network, providing a service to about 23 million passengers a year.

It will create 28 new tram stops and provide a quick, efficient and green commuter service for 20 of the 30 largest employers in the greater Nottingham area.