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The second Tyne vehicle tunnel was constructed by digging a trench across the river to hold submerged sections and to cover them with rock. The sections were constructed at the old Neptune Yard at Walker, from where they were floated down the river and submerged in the trench. Conveniently the redundant dock at Tyne Dock on the South shore needed the dredged sediment to fill it

Eide Barge 33
Specialist dredger VESALIUS arrives on semi-submersible: EIDE BARGE 33 -  4th November 2009
Vesalius dredger
Vesalius working on the new Tyne Tunnel - November 2009
It dug out a trench, across the river, in which the tunnel sections were sunk.
Enterprise
Huge semi-submersible ENTERPRISE taking Vesulius away on completion of its task
In 2009 ENTERPRISE was sold to become a floating power-plant
Construction
The octagonal tunnel sections were constructed in a reopened drydock at Wallsend
(see Yards section)
Tunnel element floating
With their ends sealed, the four tunnel sections were floated down and then submerged in the trench dug by Vesalius. The first section is seen here floating at Howdon.
Dina M
Huge floating crane-barge Dina M working
DN20
Dredged sediment from the river bed was pumped to Tyne Dock, where it was used to fill the redundant dock.
The utility barge DN20 was used to secure the floating pipes against the tidal currents.