When the Queensway Tunnel opened on 18th July 1934 King George V declared it a miracle. At 3.4km long and with a 13.4m internal diameter it was the world’s longest subaqueous tunnel and the largest municipal engineering project that had ever been undertaken in the UK. The project pushed the boundaries of engineering design and construction from its use of advanced grouting techniques to development of a mechanical erector for placing the cast iron segments that lined the tunnel.
“I thank all those who have achieved this miracle. I praise the imagination that foresaw, the minds that planned, the skill that fashioned, the will that drove, and the strong arms that endeavoured in the bringing of this work to completion.”
King George V, 18th July 1934
Guests
Colin Dever, technical services manager, Merseytravel, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Ray Langley, divisional director – north west, Mott MacDonald
Guna Rajadurai, account director utility tunnels, Mott MacDonald
Alison Smith, leisure and attractions officer, Merseytravel
Andy Thompson, tunnel design manager – east coast, Mott MacDonald
Partner
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy focussed on improving society by considering social outcomes and relentlessly focussing on excellence and digital innovation. Its predecessor firm Mott, Hay and Anderson designed the Queensway Tunnel.
