Light at end of the tunnel

Work to slide a giant concrete tunnel under Tipton's Owen Street rail line has been completed with workers making the finishing touches to the epic 101 hour project.

Engineers have been working 24 hours a day since Friday to inch the 6,500 ton, 190ft concrete sleave through the earth and beneath the rail tracks.

The tunnel was heaved into its final position early yesterday morning and now workers are filling in around it and replacing the railway tracks ready for the line to reopen at 5am tomorrow.

Design manager for the project Dominic Hull said: "It has gone very well, we are all on target and we believe this is the fastest box jack that has ever been completed."

It is hoped the jam busting £22 million scheme will alleviate massive traffic congestion that has plagued Owen Street for years caused when the level crossing gates closed.

The tunnel is 300 metres further down the track from the crossing, which is the last level crossing on the West Coast Mainline. A section of the railway between Wolverhampton and London Euston has been shut for the work.

Three giant hydraulic jacking rigs pushed the box through the embankment at a rate of 2.5 metres and hour and the concrete mass is being guided into place on top of 120 greased steel cables.

The project is part of a two-year scheme to build a road tunnel under the rail line. It is due to open in October.