The Jubilee Line Extension was one of the UK's biggest construction projects and the largest addition to the London Underground in more than 25 years. But it was severely behind schedule. Problems with tunneling and signaling had plagued the project and inspections were also behind schedule. With the start of the new millennium approaching and the launch of what was then known as the Millennium Dome in Greenwich (now The O2) there was a fixed deadline of December 1999.
Bechtel was hired to provide a fast-track push to completion. Working with partners, we finished the extension and operational commissioning in just 14 months, soon enough for the line to safely carry guests to and from London's millennium celebration.
One of the UK's biggest construction projects and the largest addition to the London Underground in more than 25 years
Image Gallery
Creating connections
The 10-mile (16-kilometer) long extension created a direct link between London's West End at Green Park and the East End of London in Greenwich and Stratford, and provided a direct stimulus to the development and redevelopment of areas previously poorly served by public transportation in the east. Stratford went on the house London’s Olympic Park some 12 years later.
Construction involved
- Tunneling at depths of up to 30 meters
- Rebuilding the historic Westminster Station next to the Houses of Parliament
- Four crossings under the Thames
- Archeological investigations at three historic station sites
- Complex conditions - The Jubilee Line is the only line on the London Underground to connect with every other line. The $5.3 billion extension involved 11 stations — 6 brand new and 5 substantially enlarged or rebuilt. Some of the original infrastructure was 150 years old.