The Hatfield Tunnel

Construction work on the Hatfield Tunnel nears completion.

Scenes filmed from above show the scale of building work at the Hatfield Tunnel in Hertfordshire, one of the most ambitious civil engineering projects underway in Europe. Constructed to carry the A1 (M) through the town of Hatfield, the tunnel accommodates six lanes of motorway. Above the tunnel a new area of shops and businesses will be established – from 1991 this was became known as The Galleria. Standing outside the entrance to the three quarter mile tunnel, Anglia TV reporter explains that it has been built by “cut and cover” with a vast hole dug and the concrete construction eventually covered over. In the fast lane the drive through the tunnel will be just 37 seconds. The lighting is designed to adapt to outside daylight and the ventilation includes 52 jet fans. Interview with Mike Palmer, Chief Resident Engineer who has led a construction team of 800 people. A particular challenge was to maintain the flow of the A1 around the construction area. Ahead of the official opening by Duke of Kent, a charity party will be held in the tunnel so that the public can experience the impressive space without traffic. Famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel held such a party in a tunnel beneath the Thames, which suffered some leaks, but the Hatfield tunnel has a pumping station and reservoir. The reporter was Peter Lugg for this video made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia.

Keywords

Motorways; Road building; Tunnel construction; Tunnels; Construction work

Additional Description

This section of the A1 was built in the 1920s as part of the Barnet Bypass project. By the 1970s this stretch of road was a particularly busy as it also carried traffic on the east/west A414 / A405 North Orbital Road corridor. The A1 was converted to motorway to the north and south of the Hatfield section so there was pressure to upgrade the remaining Hatfield section to motorway. After a survey it was decided to encase the new motorway stretch in a tunnel to minimise the environmental impact on Hatfield. Work on site began in 1983 and the tunnel was officially opened by the Duke of Kent in December 1986.