Design and construction of a deep shaft for Crossrail

An 8·2m diameter, 40m deep shaft for Crossrail is being constructed below the 10m deep basement of the Moorhouse development near Moorgate in the City of London. The depth of the shaft is such that it will penetrate through stiff London Clay and will be founded at the bottom of the Lambeth Group. The shaft is being constructed after the Moorhouse structure has been completed and the design of the Moorhouse foundations places tight constraints on acceptable ground movements due to construction of the shaft. Furthermore, the shaft needs to be designed to accommodate future ground movements associated with construction of Crossrail. The paper describes the complex relationship between the foundations of Moorhouse, the draught relief shaft and the future Crossrail assets. The optimised design includes extensive slip coating and base grouting of the Moorhouse piles, a complex temporary works dewatering system around the shaft and the option to carry out additional dewatering from within the shaft during construction. Control of ground movements through the Lambeth Group was perceived to be a particular problem in relationship to destressing the ground around the Moorhouse piles. To prevent longterm settlement of these piles, provision was made for radial grouting to “restress” the ground should the need arise.