§ 43. Mr. Smallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of construction of the Whiteinch tunnel.
§ Mr. MaclayThe contract is making good progress and, unless any unforeseen difficulties arise, the target date of completion, 1961, should be met. The following statement gives some details of progress to date
Work on tunnel No.1 is making good progress. The main access working shafts on the south side of the river have been completed and the 12 ft. diameter pilot tunnels have been driven northwards and southwards from that point, the north drive having passed completely under the river bed to about 100 yards north of the north bank. The first main tunnel shield was set up in position and the driving of the main tunnel—diameter 29 ft. 6 ins.—northwards began in October.The manufacture of the second shield is virtually complete and it is expected that within the next two or three months it will be erected in the shield chamber and that the southward drive of the main tunnel will begin.Work has also been going on on the tunnel approaches, mainly on the south side of the river. where the approach lies below water 20W level in open section. Two-thirds of the structural work has been completed there. At the northern approach, the accommodation works are well advanced and the first piles for the open section will be driven soon.As regards ancillary works, draft specifications and schedules of quantities for the ventilation and lighting of the tunnels have been prepared by the consulting engineers. It is hoped that tenders will be invited shortly for the provision and installation of the ventilation plant and for the manufacture and supply of the lighting equipment.