The Appointment of a Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor for the removal from the Kingsway Tunnel o...

Project Overview

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is seeking to appoint a Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor (LARC) to undertake the safe removal and disposal of asbestos-containing cladding panels and associated redundant infrastructure within the Kingsway Tunnel.

The project forms part of LCRCA's ongoing programme to improve tunnel infrastructure, reduce long-term maintenance liabilities, and remove redundant assets following significant tunnel upgrades completed since 2018.

Within the Kingsway Tunnel there are two forms of asbestos-backed panels:

* **Asbestos-backed dado cladding panels ("Dado Panels")** located along the lower tunnel walls.
* **Curved asbestos-backed panels ("Curved Panels")** situated above the Dado Panels.

The Dado Panels present an ongoing maintenance and operational risk. A number of panels have become detached or loosened from their supporting framework, although temporary mitigation measures have been implemented. In addition, the asbestos backing to some panels has deteriorated over time. The panels themselves are now largely redundant, as is much of the cabling located behind them, following a major tunnel modernisation programme launched in 2018 which included the installation of approximately 75 miles (120 km) of new wiring and energy-efficient LED lighting systems.

The appointed contractor will be required to:

1. Remove and dispose of the Dado Panels throughout the designated work areas.
2. Remove associated redundant cabling located behind the panels.
3. Clean the remaining supporting structure, framework and bracketry following panel removal.
4. Remove the Curved Panels located at both the Liverpool and Wallasey portals.
5. Remove additional sections of Curved Panels extending approximately 300–400 metres into each tunnel tube from the Liverpool portal.

All works shall be undertaken in accordance with current asbestos regulations, industry best practice, and the Authority's operational and safety requirements, ensuring minimal disruption to tunnel operations while maintaining the highest standards of health, safety and environmental management.