Structural and environmental monitoring is now underway on the site of the 1.4km twin-bore road tunnel.

Specialist ITM Monitoring has been awarded the pre-construction deal by Transport for London under its Value Enhancement Specialist Framework Agreement.

ITM was one of ten design consultant winners under the agreement which cuts costs for TfL by working directly with subcontractors rather than through main contractors.

ITM will be providing critical baseline measurements of assets near the project including the Emirates Air Line and Docklands Light Railway viaduct.

Its experts will also be monitoring the Thames river level to correlate movement monitoring data with potential tidal influences.

Rhiannon Scott, Bid Manager at ITM said: “We are really pleased to be working on this project, which has been awarded to ITM via Transport for London’s Value Enhancement Specialist Framework Agreement.

“The framework aims to improve value in TfL’s capacity enhancements through improved efficiency of construction scheme delivery, by liaising with the framework members who represent their engineering specialty.

“The primary purpose of baseline monitoring is to define the existing behaviour of an asset prior to commencement of intrusive works. In this case, monitoring factors such as seasonal and diurnal thermal effects as well as potential tidal influences in advance of works beginning is vital to allow improvements to be identified and applied to enhance operational delivery.”

A main contractor for the job is expected to be announced early next year.

Two bidders – Cintra Global and Hochtief PPP Solutions – are left in the race following Skanska Strabag Meridiam consortium’s decision to withdraw earlier this year.