John Vernon Bartlett CBE FREng (18 June 1927 – 17 November 2021) was a British civil engineer, particularly associated with developments in tunnelling technologies.
[1][5] Bartlett spent most of his career with consulting engineers Mott, Hay and Anderson from 1957 until his retirement as chairman and senior partner in 1988.
John Bartlett's solution was inspired by a visit to Milan, where he observed how the city's first metro line had been built using a ‘cut and cover’ method rather than boring tunnels.
Bartlett began developing a new type of tunnelling machine that combined slurry trenches with mechanical digging technology.
[7] The machine uses pressurised bentonite slurry in a sealed bulkhead behind the cutting face to balance the water pressure in the ground and stabilises the tunnel while supporting rings are installed.
It has enabled a rapid increase in tunnel construction around the world, particularly in urban areas, for water supply, sanitation, and transport – with remarkable benefit to humanity.