In a joint venture with PORR and A.Hak, Skanska was awarded a National Grid contract to design and build a replacement, high-pressure gas pipeline. Housed within a tunnel, underneath the River Humber, the pipeline will replace the existing one, which lies on the riverbed.

The joint venture will provide full design and construction of the 5km tunnel underneath the River Humber. It involves inserting a single string of 42” steel pipe and connecting it into the above-ground installations at Paull and Goxhill villagess.

World record pipeline

This will be the longest gas pipeline in a tunnel, inserted in a single string, in the world.

The joint venture was formed to bring together international expertise to deliver, in an innovative, sustainable and collaborative way, a tunnel that will protect the pipeline for the long term. This helps National Grid provide a vital service to millions of people.

The River Humber pipeline is part of the national transmission system. It connects the import terminal at Easington, on the East Yorkshire coast, to the wider network. It also delivers gas to millions of customers throughout the UK. 

Vital work

Over time, the tidal patterns of the River Humber have eroded the riverbed that covers the existing pipeline. This means parts of it are at risk of exposure. An innovative, short-term engineering solution was put in place in 2010. This protected the pipeline by covering exposed areas. The new pipeline will be a long-term replacement. 

The pipeline will be 3.36 miles (5.4km) long, of which 3.18 miles (5km) will be tunnelled.

The pipeline will be 42" (1050mm) in diameter and will transport natural gas at a pressure of 70barg.