Thames Tunnel StartIn 1825, work began on the Thames Tunnel in London, the world's first tunnel under a navigable river, between Rotherhithe and Wapping. Excavation was engineered by Marc Brunel, for which he used a tunneling shield to reduce the danger of collapse while digging through soft sediments. Beginning his own engineering career, his son Isambad K. Brunel assisted. Together they persevered through 18 years, dealing with floods, human disasters, and delays caused by financing difficulties. It opened for pedestrians on 25 Mar 1843. Planned ramps for use by carts and freight traffic were never added due to cost. The tunnel re-opened with a railway line on 7 Dec 1869, and it continued in use as the oldest part of the London Underground.«[Image: detail of the first vertical shaft excavated for access to Thames Tunnel, Rotherhithe, showing workers and ladders between floors.] |
