Improving air quality, reduction of energy consumption and the reuse and recycling of construction waste, are at the heart of Crossrail’s 2017 Environment Report.
The 2017 report focuses on the key environmental initiatives implemented during the final construction stages for the Elizabeth line:
• Improving air quality by increasing the proportion of construction machinery fitted with diesel particulate filters or cleaner engines
• Crossrail on target to reduce energy consumption during the construction of the railway by 15 per cent, surpassing original target of 8 per cent
• ‘Excellent’ CEEQUAL score for nine permanent railway structures including the new dive under at Acton
• 97 per cent of demolition and construction waste diverted from landfill
• A record number of birds using Jubilee Marsh on Wallasea Island, the RSPB wildlife reserve in Essex created using over 3 million tonnes of material excavated by Crossrail – 98 per cent of the material excavated during Crossrail’s tunnelling work was beneficially reused
• Tens of thousands of artefacts and items found by Crossrail’s archaeology programme deposited with Museum of London Archaeology Archive.
Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail Chief Executive said: “As the Crossrail programme passes 85 per cent complete, the project is focused on reducing the impact of the railway’s construction on the environment. From increasing the proportion of machinery fitted with emission controls to reducing our energy consumption, Crossrail remains on track to meet its sustainability targets.”
Crossrail is helping the wider industry and future projects learn and build upon its experience by sharing insights through the Crossrail Learning Legacy portal, including many of the tools, templates and processes that were developed as part of the environmental management system during the delivery of the Crossrail project. The portal can be found at learninglegacy.crossrail.co.uk
The Crossrail project is a key contributor to London’s long term sustainability. The Elizabeth line will add 10 per cent capacity to central London’s rail network when it opens in December 2018, reducing congestion on London Underground and National Rail. The TfL-run railway will be fully integrated with London’s existing transport network and carry an estimated 200 million passengers each year.