Glendoe Hydro Electric
issue 17 August 2007
Dam: More good progress on the dam structure and a milestone was reached when the bottom outlet was completed and the River Tarff diverted through it. The pictures below show the final completion of the outlet and the diverted river running on its new course.
The diversion of the River Tarff will allow the construction of the dam plinth across the riverbed for the last one third of the length of the dam. Work is going well too on the dam embankment, which is now up to its full height across a length of 100 metres or so. The picture below shows work beginning on the upstream face of the dam to
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prepare for slip forming the reinforced concrete slab, which will seal the dam to hold back the water.
Headrace Tunnel: The Tunnel Boring Machine “Eliza Jane” is going really well with over 800
Headrace Tunnel: Good rock conditions and very little down time meant “Eliza Jane” is now 3 weeks ahead of programme with less than 2,500 metres to go. At this rate we could see her breaking out of the hillside at the dam site at the end of November.
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Aqueduct Tunnel: There are now three different drill and blast squads working on the tunnel on six headings with each squad alternating between two faces. Overall they are only one week behind schedule but with over 400 metres completed this month they are about a quarter the way through the 7.5 km tunnels. On a project this size and complexity there are necessarily rigorous safety standards in force to reduce the risk of a serious accident. The huge network of tunnels created for the project is an added hazard and teams of highly trained staff have been created to deal with any incident. The teams were trained by the Mines Rescue Service and are on call 24 hours a day. They take part in a training exercise every month to hone their skills so that they are prepared for any eventuality. The photographs below show one of the teams as they prepare to move the ‘casualty’ deep inside the tailrace tunnel and then taking a welcome break afterwards.
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Power Cavern: Work has now begun on constructing the concrete structure inside the cavern, which will house the turbine and generator plus all the ancillary storerooms, offices and workshops associated with a modern power station. As mentioned last month this will take about a year to complete.
For further information on the project see the official website at www.glendoe.co.uk These updates are issued monthly and if you are not already receiving them directly by email and would like to please contact douglas.gilchrist1@btopenworld.com or if you have any questions or concerns about the project you should contact Douglas Gilchrist, the Community Liaison Officer at 01463741322 or 07770408083 or by email.
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