ODA begins work to create Green Corridors in Olympic Park

27 September 2007--The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has begun the process of turning the 8.35km of waterways that intersect the Olympic Park into ‘Green Corridors’, with a programme of work now underway on the river next to the Aquatics Centre.

Currently the waterways are polluted, neglected and under-used. As part of creating Europe’s largest urban park for 150 years, the ODA will regenerate the waterways, remodelling over 3.5km of riverbanks, improving water levels, widening wetland areas and creating new habitats for wildlife and plants.

The programme of work to stabilise banks and repair and replace river walls has recently begun on the Aquatics Centre where the waterway is being widened and new river walls built.

David Higgins, Chief Executive of the ODA, said: “The Olympic Park is characterised with a series of waterways which run through the heart of the site. Currently, the water quality is poor and the waterways have been used as a dumping ground for everything from shopping trolleys to cars.

“We have started a programme of work to completely reinvigorate these rivers, improving the quality of the water and creating ‘Green Corridors’ with new habitats for wildlife. The regeneration of the waterways will also improve public access to the riverside both during the Games and in legacy.

“These water courses are also an important part of our logistics strategy--we plan to use the waterways for the transport of some construction materials during the Games, cutting down on the amount of lorries travelling on the roads.”

The ODA has begun the work to widen the river and replace the existing dilapidated 1930’s concrete river walls at the Aquatics Centre. At present, 11 tonne steel piles are being vibrated into the ground, making the river eight metres wider along the western bank of the Aquatics site.

The waterways are also central to the ODA’s infrastructure programme with plans to bridge them with a combination of permanent and temporary bridges which will improve access for construction vehicles across the site. The first of these temporary construction bridges has just been lifted into place between the sites for the VeloPark and IBC/MPC.

And, as work accelerates, ecologists have also been working to minimise any disruption to existing habitats and have been relocating wildlife including fish from the waterways and newts, invertebrates and birds from other parts of the Park. Many of these species have been re-located at the nearby Waterworks Nature Reserve and will be re-introduced to greatly-improved habitats within the Olympic Park after the Games.

British Waterways has begun work on a new lock and water control structure on Prescott Channel which should be completed by the Beijing Games. This will improve access to the Olympic Park waterways, making them navigable for freight traffic during construction phase.

Source: London 2012

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