Insights My role on: Thames Tideway Tunnel
James Powner | Tunnel Engineer
25 April 2019
Tunnel Engineer James Powner talks to #insideAtkins through his role and what makes him proud to work here.
James Powner is a Tunnel Engineer based in London. He joined Atkins as a graduate in 2014 and is now working on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, the largest project ever delivered by the UK water industry. The ‘super sewer’ will clean up the River Thames. We’ve been working as part of a joint venture with Arup to provide a range of design and engineering services, including on the ‘West’ section of the scheme where we’re providing design, construction, commissioning and maintenance following the completion of the construction.
The enormous project has just reached its halfway point, and is currently on track for its 2024 completion target, so we wanted to talk to James, just one of the many people that have helped keep the project moving smoothly, to find out more about his role and how it fits into this wider undertaking.
How would you describe your work on Tideway?
At the moment, it’s a real mix. We’re currently in the construction support phase of the works and I have several varied responsibilities, from managing the commercial elements of the construction support to managing the technical elements, such as responding to requests for information from the contractor.
What does your typical day involve?
My days are usually split between technical and commercial tasks. Technical tasks can involve attending meetings with the contractor to discuss the specifics of an element of the construction works or reviewing the delivery programme to ensure we’re on track with design updates. I also regularly visit the construction sites that comprise Tideway West to answer any specific questions and review progress.”
Why does your work matter to you?
I just love being involved in big and complex projects. I know that my choices can impact the success of the project and contribute to the end product. The Thames Tideway Tunnel will ensure that London’s sewers can perform for the next 120 years, as well as making sure the River Thames becomes a clean and refreshed river which enables greater use for all of London.
What makes you proud of what you do?
There’s currently a lot of focus on Tideway in the media so when friends and family ask what project I’m working on and I tell them Tideway, it’s really great to hear their enthusiastic responses. There seems to be a real interest in big infrastructure projects among the general public at the moment. Seeing things like the BBC documentaries for Crossrail (my previous project) and Tideway have helped enormously with that, and it makes me proud to be involved.
What’s the view from your office window?
I’ve got a great view of the River Thames. I can’t wait to see how things change after the tunnel is completed.
If you would like to work on more such exciting projects, click here for a career with us!
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/29/2024
Summary
As a hub of diversity and multiculturalism, the UAE boasts a thriving economy with rapidly growing infrastructure. Steering away from a reliance on oil and toward cutting-edge innovation, the UAE is
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/29/2024
Summary
Meet Tom from our D&AT (Design & Advanced Technology) team. He's an associate at AtkinsRéalis who has built an exciting career on diverse and career-defining projects, including work on the Lo
by
Shailaja Mantha
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/26/2024
Summary
By implementing reforms in the public sector and wider society, the KSA’s Vision 2030 has greatly improved government efficiency, bringing about new growth and investment opportunities. What is Visio
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
In the ever-evolving landscape of professional endeavours, finding a workplace that feels like your safe space is a rare gem. AtkinsRealis stands as a beacon in this regard, where talents not only
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
In the ever-evolving landscape of urban drainage modelling, AtkinsRéalis stands as the leaders with large highly skilled urban drainage modellers. Our focus on serving our clients around urban dra
Preview
CanadaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the skill of managing constantly changing environments has become more and more important. New construction project management software offers innovativ
Preview
AustraliaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/24/2024
Summary
In a momentous shift, SNC-Lavalin has transitioned to AtkinsRéalis, marking a new era of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in engineering consultancy. With this rebrand comes a fresh persp
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/23/2024
Summary
As Mumbai continues to evolve and expand, the demand for sustainable infrastructure and cutting-edge technology has never been more pressing. At the forefront of this transformative journey is Atk
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/22/2024
Summary
Hi there! I'm Paul, a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience specializing in networks and drainage engineering. My role at AtkinsRéalis spans managing projects, directing major initia
by
Shailaja Mantha
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/22/2024
Summary
Meet Paul, a talented civil engineer in water management whose career journey is as inspiring as impressive. Starting at AtkinsRéalis, fresh out of university in 1997, Paul quickly distinguish
by
Shailaja Mantha
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
In the vast expanse of the Saudi Arabian landscape, you’ll find a beacon of innovation, a vision for a better, greener tomorrow. NEOM sits in the heart of the Tabuk province and isn’t just anothe
Preview
AsiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
As a global metropolis, Hong Kong has long been a fantastic place to be a civil engineer. With world-class infrastructure all around, effective civil engineers have many opportunities to be a
AtkinsRéalis
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We’re devoted to growing the diversity of our people, promoting an inclusive culture, providing everyone with an equal voice because simply put, it’s the right thing to do. Click to learn more.
Find out more