The £100 million Shieldhall Tunnel between Queen’s Park and Govan — the biggest investment in waste water infrastructure in Glasgow for more than a century — is making good progress and is due to be completed in 2018, the Scottish Government said.

Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown reviewed progress to the construction of Scotland’s biggest storm water storage tunnel in the heart of Glasgow on Monday.

Scottish Water is gearing up to receive the project’s 1,000 tonne, 180 metre-long tunnel boring machine in the coming weeks.

The Shieldhall Tunnel is a key part of Scottish Water’s £250 million, five-year programme of work to modernise the waste water network in the Greater Glasgow area.

The tunnel will provide storage during heavy rainfall.

“This is a massive undertaking — at more than £100 million it will be Scotland’s largest sewer,” said Brown.

“This project is just one part of a massive investment programme to upgrade Glasgow’s sewer network to make it fit for the 21st Century.

“It is well known that the sewer system has contributed to flooding problems across Glasgow. This Government is determined to ensure that upgrades progress as they are essential to Glasgow’s future economic prosperity.

“I have been extremely impressed by the work undertaken so far by Scottish Water and its contractors and their efforts to work closely with affected communities.

“Delivering projects in the heart of Glasgow means working in tight spaces and in close proximity of people’s houses and businesses.

“In delivering this project, Scottish Water and their partners have demonstrated a significant level of careful planning to ensure the least amount of disruption for local communities while they deliver this key infrastructure project.

“This is another fine example of Scottish Water’s determination, as a public sector organisation to deliver for its customers and the Scottish Government is fully supportive of this kind of investment in key infrastructure projects in Scotland’s biggest city.”

Douglas Millican, Scottish Water’s chief executive, said: “Much of the Greater Glasgow area’s existing waste water infrastructure was built in Victorian times and the modernisation of the system and construction of new underground assets, such as the Shieldhall Tunnel, will protect the natural environment, reduce the risk of flooding and meet the needs of growth, economic development and regeneration.

“It is also supporting jobs and employment opportunities, including a number of apprenticeships.”