Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 Program Begins Second Phase

CH2M agreed to its second annual program of work with the Environment Agency on the Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 program (TEAM2100), the Environment Agency's largest single flood risk management contract.

The scope of work in the second year consists of engineering investigations, appraisals, detailed designs and construction across the Thames Estuary, including work on the largest program of improvement on the major barriers that protect London and Kent, England, from tidal flooding.

Additionally, the team will be looking at obtaining ISO 55000 Asset Management Accreditation on the program, which involves looking at the best whole life asset management solutions across the estuary, including evaluating compensatory intertidal habitats and collaborating with other major programs to share best practices.

"The innovative approach being implemented on TEAM2100 is generating significant benefits in efficient delivery, having generated more than 100 innovation ideas and implementing six of these innovations to date," said CH2M's Global Water Business Group President Peter Nicol. "We are proud of the excellent work being done across Thames Estuary to protect London and surrounding communities from tidal flooding and look forward to successfully delivering this next phase of the work on the TEAM2100 program." 

The Environment Agency selected CH2M as its delivery partner on TEAM2100 in 2014. TEAM2100, listed as one of the government's top 40 infrastructure projects, is investing up to £300m on tidal defenses over the next 10 years, as recommended by the TE2100 plan. In its first year, TEAM2100 focused on gaining a sound understanding of the asset base, undertaking engineering investigations on 180 gates and 50 km of walls and embankments throughout the estuary. These investigations will help optimize the works program over the remainder of the 10 years. 

The Thames Estuary tidal flood risk management system protects 1.25 million people and £200 billion of property. It consists of walls, embankments, floodgates, pumping stations, outfalls and major barriers on the River Thames and its tributaries. Significant investment is required to ensure that these assets continue to provide protection against flooding into the next century. Increased wall heights and a new barrier will be required later this century, but the focus of the first 10 years of investment is on continuing maintenance and essential improvements to the assets, integrating environmental improvements for people and wildlife along the tidal Thames, and optimizing investment over not just the 10 years of the program, but over the next 100 years.

Source: CH2M