The proposed 20-mile Thames Tunnel will be the width of three London buses

About the tunnel

The tunnel will run up to 32 kilometres (20 miles) from west to east London, and up to 75 metres beneath the River Thames, broadly beneath the bed of the River Thames.

Its precise route, including the starting point in the west of the city, has still to be determined. Sewage from the tunnel will be transferred to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works.

We are consulting with the relevant authorities about the optimum route of the tunnel and the process for selecting works sites.

We have not made any final decisions on the exact locations we will need to construct and operate the Thames Tunnel. A public consultation on our preferred route and construction sites will start in September 2010. Pre-register for the public consultation

A map showing all the 57 combined sewer overflows that discharge to the River Thames can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Consulting local authorities and stakeholders

In autumn 2008 we began the process of consulting the London local authorities who could potentially be affected by the construction of the Thames Tunnel. Other pan-London stakeholders involved in this process are the Environment Agency, the Port of London Authority and the Greater London Authority.

They have provided input into the methodology that we are using to identify suitable sites. They have also helped us develop our proposal for public consultation for the scheme, which is due to start in September 2010.

Planning application and construction

Our target date for the submission of the planning application is 2012.

We are awaiting guidance on which organisation(s) will determine our planning application(s).

Initial construction of the Thames Tunnel is provisionally scheduled to start in 2013 and finish in 2020.