Tyne Tunnel Project a Step Nearer
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THE new Tyne Tunnel project will probably be authorized by the Minister of Transport next year, the House Of Commons was told last week. It will be built near the present JarrowHowdon ferry, and approach roads will link it with the coast road from Newcastle on the Northumberland side of the river, and with the Gateshead-Sunderland trunk road on the Durham side.
Plans submitted by the Tyne Tunnel Joint Committee, which have been approved in principle by the Minister, provide for these approach roads to have dual carriageways, with separate tracks for cyclists. The tunnel itself would be restricted to motor traffic, and drivers would pay tolls.
The total cost of the project has been estimated by the committee at nearly £13m.
PURFLEET TUNNEL PROGRESS UORE than 730 ft. of the main tunnel IY1 under the Thames between Dartford and Purfleet has been built since work on this part of the £11m. project was started a year ago. The Kent driving shield has been pushed through the difficult mixture of gravel and chalk and is now boring into chalk at some 80 ft. a month. The Essex shield has some 300 ft. to go before entering solid chalk and is about 1,070 ft. from the other shield.
The tunnel is expected to be in use in 1962 and will link the A13 road in Essex with the A2 road in Kent.