Noise and Vibration – Crossrail | United Kingdom

The £16bn Crossrail project delivers new stations and railway infrastructure into urban and sub-urban communities across London to address the lack of capacity and congestion on the existing transport network. The project involved construction 42km of new tunnels and 10 new stations beneath central London.

The management of noise and vibration during construction of the railway was one of the key challenges faced on the project. Crossrail established ambitious environmental objectives to ensure that impacts were minimised and controlled.

Sixense provided a wide range of noise and vibration consultancy and monitoring specialist services to main contractors on some of the most challenging construction sites. Sixense work ensured construction could progress whilst keeping environmental impacts to a minimum, in accordance with the Crossrail Environmental Minimum Requirements.

Sixense prepared numerous construction noise and vibration consent documents including noise insulation/temporary re-housing assessments and Section 61 consent applications, as well as numerous other vibration impact assessments, mitigation plans, complaint investigation and expert technical advice throughout the works, working closely with the main contractor in consultation with the local authority.

As complex engineering projects progress, construction methodologies invariably evolve. Sixense acoustic consultants were in constant liaison with the project teams to provide reactivity in line with the project needs.

By proactively keeping the client informed about key risks, the services allowed them to focus on what they do best – construction engineering, with full confidence of meeting the needs of an ever-changing and challenging project.