The construction phase on Scotland’s biggest waste water tunnel is now complete, with the 1,000-tonne tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘breaking through’ in Queen’s Park last week.

The TBM, named ‘Daisy the Driller’ by a Glasgow schoolboy, spent 15 months creating the 3.1-mile long sewer beneath the south of the city. The Costain VINCI Construction Grans Projets Joint Venture (CVJV) was set up to deliver the project.

Further construction and ancillary work will now be carried out including work to connect the tunnel to the existing waste water network before the tunnel becomes operational next summer.

Douglas Millican, Scottish Water’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have completed the construction phase of the Shieldhall Tunnel, which is the flagship project in Scottish Water’s investment in the waste water infrastructure in the Greater Glasgow area - the biggest in well over a century.

“The tunnel will improve water quality in the River Clyde and reduce the risk of flooding in a number of communities. As the Greater Glasgow area continues to develop, we are modernising our waste water infrastructure to support the needs of both existing and future customers.

“The completion of the Shieldhall Tunnel, which will increase capacity and alleviate pressure on the existing network by providing additional storm water storage, is a key part of that network modernisation.

“With Daisy the Driller having reached her destination, we have completed the most challenging part of the project. We now move to linking the tunnel to the existing Glasgow waste water network and bringing the whole new system into operation next year.”

Neil Grosset, project director for CVJV on the Shieldhall Tunnel, said: “All at Costain and VINCI Construction Grands Projets are delighted to have completed construction of the Shieldhall Tunnel for Scottish Water and the people of Glasgow.”