This morning, the first passenger train arrived at the newly rebuilt platforms at Huddersfield Station, marking a major milestone in Phase One of the station upgrades. This achievement takes customers one step closer to faster, cleaner, more reliable trains across the North. Over the past month, our TRU West Alliance has been working around the clock to transform the station. The work, which included demolishing the old platforms and building new ones, strengthening Huddersfield viaduct, replacing John William Street bridge, installing new track and upgrading the signalling, will all lead to faster, more reliable journeys for customers and help support local economic growth by connecting Huddersfield more efficiently with Manchester, Leeds and beyond. While the station was closed to services, Team TRU has: James Richardson, Managing Director for TRU said: “Seeing the first train pull into the new platform this morning was a proud moment for everyone involved. People can see from today how this transformation is a key step forward in delivering a modern, future-ready station for Huddersfield, by offering customers more capacity, better services and greater reliability. “While we’re pleased to have achieved this key milestone, we have to extend a sincere thank you to passengers, local residents, community groups and local Huddersfield businesses for their patience and understanding while the station was closed. We know these works cause disruption and we greatly appreciate the support that’s been shown over the last month. “This weekend marked the 200th anniversary of the railway, an invention that changed the lives of millions all over the world. As phase two of the works continues partially out of public view until early 2027, all of us on TRU are proud of the difference we are making across the enterprise, taking the railway well into the future for years to come.” From today (29 September), Huddersfield station will operate with a temporary layout using just three platforms (Platforms 1, 2 and 3) while phase two of the work continues behind new barriers. The changes mean: · Platform 2 (Sheffield services) becomes platform 1 · Platform 1 (Manchester services) becomes platform 2 · Platform 4 (Leeds services) becomes platform 3 The remaining platforms, canopy restoration, track work and signalling enhancements will be undertaken over the next two years, with the station upgrade completed in early 2027. During this phase, some services will run from different platforms, and others may be replaced by rail replacement buses, so customers are urged to check before travelling and allow some extra time. Chris Nutton, Major Projects & TRU Director at TransPennine Express, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome customers back into Huddersfield station and we’d like to thank them and our local communities for their continued patience and understanding while these upgrade works were carried out as part of the once-in-a-lifetime Transpennine Route Upgrade. “The end of the 30-day closure is a major milestone in the history of our iconic station, and I couldn’t be prouder of how we came together as an industry to deliver it. From track engineers to train crew, and from train planning to rail replacement bus coordinators – everyone played a vital role. “While trains are now running through Huddersfield again, there are a number of changes to how the station operates, with fewer platforms available and changes to some of the services. We advise customers to plan ahead and take extra time when travelling.” Liam O’Shaughnessy, TRU Programme Delivery Lead at Northern, said: “We’d like to thank our customers for bearing with us over the last 30 days while these upgrade works have been carried out. We’d also like to thank all our colleagues from across the industry who’ve come together to keep customers moving during this time. The amount of work that has taken place at Huddersfield Railway Station and the surrounding areas over the last month has been staggering, and that is testament to all the planning that went into this piece of work across the rail industry.“Whilst the next phase of construction at Huddersfield Railway Station takes place, Northern services that normally run into Huddersfield from Bradford Interchange will be unable to do so due to reduced platform capacity, this also affects stopping services from Leeds which will be diverted via Brighouse. Our advice to customers is to plan ahead and check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Huddersfield station will reopen on Monday 29 September with three rebuilt and extended platforms under new numbering, marking an important step in the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU). From this date, only platforms 1, 2 and 3 will be in use, meaning trains will run to and from different platforms than before and some services will be replaced by rail replacement buses. Passengers are advised to check the latest information before travelling and allow extra time when using the station. While the station will be open, phase two of the upgrades will continue behind a sectioned-off area, allowing construction teams to complete the remaining platform, canopy and track work. Once finished in early 2027, Huddersfield station will be able to accommodate longer trains with more seating capacity, delivering more comfortable and reliable journeys. During this stage of the upgrade, some services* will be affected. Stations including Cottingley, Morley, Batley, Ravensthorpe, Brighouse, Halifax, Low Moor and Bradford Interchange will not have direct trains to Huddersfield, and customers may need to change trains as part of their journey. Passengers are advised to plan ahead and check the latest travel information at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Extra staff will be on hand at Huddersfield and other key stations to provide advice and assistance. Paul Sumner, Senior Sponsor for TRU, said: “We’re looking forward to reopening Huddersfield station at the end of this month, however, we know customers will notice some changes. This includes trains arriving/departing from different platforms and some temporary service alterations. “We want to thank customers for their patience as we continue this once-in-a-generation investment and would encourage anyone travelling through the area to plan their journey ahead of time.” Chris Nutton, Major Projects & TRU Director at TransPennine Express, said: “We’re excited to welcome customers back to Huddersfield station next week and for them to see all the work that has taken place whilst the station was closed. “As we move into phase two of the Huddersfield station upgrade, it will look and operate differently than it did before – with fewer platforms available and some minor changes to TransPennine Express services. “With one week to go before the station reopens, we encourage customers to plan ahead and check if these changes will affect you.” The Transpennine Route Upgrade is a multi-billion-pound programme transforming rail travel across the North, delivering faster journey times, increased capacity and more reliable services between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The transport secretary has signed a development consent order for Gatwick Airport’s £2.2bn expansion, clearing the way to bring the standby northern runway into full operational use. Capacity is expected to rise from around 280,000 flights a year to approximately 389,000 by the late 2030s. The privately financed, “shovel-ready” project pivots on shifting the northern runway’s centreline 12 metres north, enabling dual-runway operations in line with international safety standards. A five-year build will also deliver terminal extensions, a new aircraft pier, an extension to an existing pier, and new flyovers to segregate local and airport road traffic, easing congestion. Further works include new passenger facilities, car parking, offices and hotels. Gatwick submitted its application to the Planning Inspectorate in July 2023; the Inspectorate reported to the secretary of state on 27 November 2024. In February, transport secretary Heidi Alexander said she was minded to approve subject to strengthened noise mitigation. Those conditions have now been satisfied and development consent has been granted. The airport is owned 50.01% by French construction group Vinci and 49.99% by Global Infrastructure Partners, the US infrastructure investor. Gatwick says the programme will unlock extra capacity within its existing footprint while supporting long-term regional growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has announced the completion of the A14 Orwell Bridge Westbound Joint Replacement for National Highways. The £4m scheme being delivered under the National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) took place at the A14 westbound carriageway of Orwell Bridge in Ipswich – a critical transport link in the East of England to Felixstowe port. The essential maintenance commenced on 16th June and required the expediated replacement of ageing expansion joints. The works were urgently commissioned to protect the safety of the public, alongside preventing disruption to the main route that is essential for all freight traffic heading to Felixstowe. Winvic, National Highways, engineer WSP, and Chevron Traffic Management, collaborated to create a permanent solution for a 175-day programme which was consolidated to just 37 days as a result of working 24 hours, seven days per week in contraflow to minimise disruption on this busy route. Construction involved undertaking hydro demolition works, alongside working at height across a constrained site of two lanes for traffic and pedestrian access, with approximately 12,000 HGV movements over the bridge every day. National Highways engaged with Suffolk County Council and politicians in order to ensure transport links were not affected by any works and disruption was minimised for road users. The team employed an advanced traffic management system and carried out numerical traffic modelling using validated traffic models from Suffolk County Council, which allowed them to assess the impact of all potential options for road users. Ahead of the works starting, Winvic supported National Highways at The Suffolk Show, where almost 300 people visited over two days to ask questions and learn about the project. Further public engagement sessions were held at other locations across Ipswich. The public were also kept appraised of the work through VMS signage, live journey time updates, targeted briefings, and timely distribution of handouts. Winvic applied lessons learnt from previous SDF schemes to improve efficiency and safety on Orwell Bridge. For example, the adoption of a floor saw to remove Lamella Rails which eliminated the use of hot works, reducing manual handling and delivering an 80% time saving on the works – equating to two weeks saved on the programme. Local suppliers were engaged throughout the project, contributing to the growth of the local economy and reducing environmental impact. As part of Winvic’s commitment to delivering meaningful Social Value and community engagement, the project team visited Morland Primary School in Ipswich to promote safety awareness around construction sites to over 120 pupils. The team also volunteered to support local Ipswich community projects, which included supporting the St. Elizabeth’s Hospice pop-up shop in Ipswich’s Buttermarket Centre, selling merchandise for the Hop-To-It Art Trail – one of the charity’s largest annual fundraising events. Rob Cook, Managing Director for Civils & Infrastructure at Winvic Construction Ltd, said: “We have built a strong and trusted partnership with National Highways over many years of collaboration, including our time on the SDF. We’re proud to have successfully delivered the pivotal works to Orwell Bridge, delivering to a consolidated programme, which prioritised public safety while minimising disruption for road users and local businesses.” “The project was a true team effort, with seamless collaboration between National Highways and our supply chain partners. We’re proud of the high standards achieved and the positive contribution the scheme has made to both infrastructure and the local community.” Andy Jobling, National Highways Programme Delivery Manager, said: “Working on the momentous Orwell Bridge to replace the expansion joints was always going to be extremely challenging. The great collaboration between partners to share ideas, experience and bring forward methods of working, enabled us to expedite construction and minimise road closures. “These essential maintenance works were developed at pace and successfully delivered to programme due to the dedication and teamwork of everyone involved on the project. This was a huge achievement, undertaking construction as quickly and safely as possible, whilst minimising disruption to motorists and the community.” Join Winvic on social media – LinkedIn, and Instagram. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Construction will start this winter on improvements designed to make bus journeys into and out of Banbury Cherwell Street more reliable. The project was given the go-ahead at an Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member decision meeting on Thursday 4 September. Work is expected to finish in summer 2026. The council, together with its contractor M Group Limited, will build bus priority measures and improve traffic signals along Cherwell Street and the area between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions. Pedestrian crossings will also be upgraded to benefit people walking, cycling, and wheeling to bus stops, the town centre, and Banbury Rail Station. Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management said: “Banbury’s Cherwell Street is heavily congested, causing frequent bus delays. These improvements will make bus travel into and out of central Banbury more reliable and so more attractive. “We have used feedback from public engagement to change the design, maintaining the number of lanes through the two junctions, while still prioritising bus movement and improving pedestrian safety with better crossings. “When finished, these improvements will complement future upgrades planned for Banbury, like the eastern strategic cycle lane.” The work involves improving the current George Street bus lane, access for buses into Bridge Street west and the crossing facilities and signalling at the Bridge Street junction. The county council consulted on an early design in spring 2024 and revised it using feedback and transport modelling data. A second consultation took place in spring 2025, with the final design determined after considering further feedback and a road safety audit. Input from local councillors, Stagecoach Bus, business groups and active travel advocates was also taken into account. The Cherwell Street project complements access improvements already underway at Banbury Rail Station and is part of plans to enhance sustainable transport options in the town. This includes the eastern active travel corridor project to upgrade cycling and walking routes from Overthorpe to Bridge Street Park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has commenced works on the Carholme Road and A46/A57 roundabout scheme in Lincoln. Marking Winvic’s fourth project awarded under the Lincolnshire County Council Highways Framework, Winvic will deliver vital infrastructure improvements valued at £1.9 million. Scheduled to run from July to November 2025, the scheme involves complex civil engineering upgrades to Carholme Road – between Nelson Street and the A57 Saxilby Road – as well as the westbound carriageway of the A46 at Carholme Roundabout, including adjoining side roads. This key transport corridor sits in the heart of Lincoln city centre. Key elements of the upgrades include 9,000m² of resurfacing, along with constructing 800m² of new footway and installing 350 metres of new drainage featuring 37 new gullies. Additional works will involve carriageway realignment, kerb improvements, structural pavement replacement, and the application of new road markings and surface course finishes. The scheme will also address minor kerb maintenance and will be undertaken with full traffic management to ensure safety and minimise disruption. As part of its social value commitments to the region, Winvic will be supporting local employment through new roles on the project, previously on other projects on the framework this has included labourers, groundworkers and traffic management roles. Winvic will also be engaging with local schools in the new academic year to deliver careers workshops and engaging STEM activities highlighting engineering and modern methods of construction. Winvic is furthering its community support through volunteering in the local area and is already looking to partner with Lincolnshire County Council to provide its expertise and time to support local community projects. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure, adds: “We are proud to be continuing our partnership with Lincolnshire County Council on this vital highways scheme. Carholme Road and the A46/A57 roundabout are key components of Lincoln’s Road network, and our experienced teams are committed to delivering these works safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to the local community.” Join Winvic on social media – LinkedIn, and Instagram. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Balfour Beatty VINCI has moved a 112m long, 1,631 tonne steel structure over a section of Lawley Middleway – part of Birmingham’s ring road, four days ahead of schedule. The operation was successfully delivered by Balfour Beatty VINCI and their bridge move contractor Mammoet. To minimise disruption to road users, the huge span was moved during night-time road closures – moving between 18 and 24 metres every night using a special skidding system – ensuring that the road has remained open during the day. From the first day of the move on 15 August, the team – helped by favourable weather conditions, were able to get ahead of programme, meaning the road will be back to normal from 6am on Friday 22 August instead of the planned full reopening on Monday 25 August. Georgios Markakis, Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “This is a proud moment for my team, who have worked hard to deliver this impressive feat of engineering. Through careful planning and expert support from our supply chain, we were able to deliver the operation much quicker than planned. “Not only have we successfully delivered a milestone feat of engineering on the HS2 project, we’ve also been able to get the road back to normal early – which is good news for everyone.” HS2’s Head of Delivery for the Curzon Approaches, Greg Sugden said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the team, and the culmination of two years’ work including detailed design, planning, construction and delivery of this highly technical launch operation. “It is the first steel structure to be put in place for the one mile stretch of viaducts on the approach to Birmingham Curzon Street Station – a pivotal part of the high-speed railway now starting to take shape.” “Not only have we successfully delivered a milestone feat of engineering on the HS2 project, we’ve also been able to get the road back to normal early – which is good news for everyone.” Rather than building the bridge in situ, disruption to road users was drastically reduced by constructing the steel span on land next to Digbeth Canal over the last two years. On 15 August 2025, heavy lifting engineering experts Mammoet rotated the bridge 90 degrees using two self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). Over the following four nights, a skidding system – with a jacking push/pull mechanism, was used alongside the SPMTs to move the structure into place across Lawley Middleway. This combination of techniques is rarely used and is a first for Balfour Beatty VINCI on the HS2 project. Lawley Middleway bridge forms part of the railway’s approach to Birmingham, with high-speed trains travelling out of the west portal of the 3.5 mile Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath and onto a one mile stretch of five connected viaducts – Duddeston Junction, Curzon 1, Curzon 2, Lawley Middleway and Curzon 3 which links onto the platforms of Birmingham Curzon Street Station. Now at peak productivity, work will progress on this section of the railway with the second Bromford Tunnel breakthrough, Curzon 2 viaduct move, first Duddeston Junction Viaduct move, reopening of Aston Church Road, demolition of the old Aston Church Road bridge and start of construction of the new Saltley Viaduct – all set to happen over the next 12 months. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A specialist HS2 engineering team has moved a 112m long, 1,631 tonne steel structure over a section of Lawley Middleway – part of Birmingham’s ring road, four days ahead of schedule. The operation was successfully delivered by HS2’s main works contractor in the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) and their bridge move contractor Mammoet. To minimise disruption to road users, the huge span was moved during night-time road closures – moving between 18 and 24 metres every night using a special skidding system – ensuring that the road has remained open during the day. From the first day of the move on 15 August, the team – helped by favourable weather conditions, were able to get ahead of programme, meaning the road will be back to normal from 6am on Friday 22 August instead of the planned full reopening on Monday 25 August. HS2’s Head of Delivery for the Curzon Approaches, Greg Sugden said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the team, and the culmination of two years’ work including detailed design, planning, construction and delivery of this highly technical launch operation. “It is the first steel structure to be put in place for the one mile stretch of viaducts on the approach to Birmingham Curzon Street Station – a pivotal part of the high-speed railway now starting to take shape.” Georgios Markakis, Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “This is a proud moment for my team, who have worked hard to deliver this impressive feat of engineering. Through careful planning and expert support from our supply chain, we were able to deliver the operation much quicker than planned. “Not only have we successfully delivered a milestone feat of engineering on the HS2 project, we’ve also been able to get the road back to normal early – which is good news for everyone.” Rather than building the bridge in situ, disruption to road users was drastically reduced by constructing the steel span on land next to Digbeth Canal over the last two years. On 15 August 2025, heavy lifting engineering experts Mammoet rotated the bridge 90 degrees using two self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). Over the following four nights, a skidding system – with a jacking push/pull mechanism, was used alongside the SPMTs to move the structure into place across Lawley Middleway. This combination of techniques is rarely used and is a first for BBV on the HS2 project. Lawley Middleway bridge forms part of the railway’s approach to Birmingham, with high-speed trains travelling out of the west portal of the 3.5 mile Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath and onto a one mile stretch of five connected viaducts – Duddeston Junction, Curzon 1, Curzon 2, Lawley Middleway and Curzon 3 which links onto the platforms of Birmingham Curzon Street Station. Now at peak productivity, work will progress on this section of the railway with the second Bromford Tunnel breakthrough, Curzon 2 viaduct move, first Duddeston Junction Viaduct move, reopening of Aston Church Road, demolition of the old Aston Church Road bridge and start of construction of the new Saltley Viaduct – all set to happen over the next 12 months. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Construction firm Farrans has been appointed to deliver a £59 million transport project linking Paisley town centre with the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and Glasgow Airport. The major infrastructure scheme, led by Renfrewshire Council, will include a new road bridge across Paisley Harbour, a 1.7km gateway route along the White Cart river, and a network of new roads, cycling and walking links connecting the town centre train station and bus interchange to AMIDS, Glasgow Airport and Inchinnan. A new road from Renfrew Road to the bridge crossing will also be built, linking into the planned Paisley Grammar School Community Campus. Dedicated active travel routes are included in the design, along with a safe access route from Gallowhill using the former railway underpass, funded by £1.5 million from Transport Scotland. The £59m scheme will be backed by £38.7m from the UK Government’’ Levelling Up Fund, with Renfrewshire Council contributing £18.8m. Construction planning is currently underway, with the project scheduled to be completed and open in 2028. Economic forecasts suggest the project could generate £136m in private sector investment, cut carbon emissions by 21,700 tonnes, and create new employment opportunities by supporting existing and new businesses. Patrick Murray, Scotland’s Regional Director for Farrans, said: “AMIDS South is a project which will deliver major economic and connectivity benefits for the town of Paisley and wider Renfrewshire, and we are looking forward to getting work started on site. “Our experienced team has recently completed the highly-successful Govan to Partick Bridge in Glasgow and we have a long history of projects in the transportation sector in Scotland including Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven in joint venture as SFN, M80 Stepps to Haggs and the A737 Dalry Bypass in Ayrshire. We are working through the final stages of preparation with our client Renfrewshire Council and will be engaging on the ground with local stakeholders shortly.” Council Leader Iain Nicolson said the project would play a pivotal role in Renfrewshire’s future growth. “AMIDS is one of the most significant developments in Renfrewshire’s recent history as it will bring high-quality jobs, world-leading industry and provide a significant boost to the area’s economy so it is important that we provide the appropriate access to Scotland’s home of manufacturing innovation. “This project will not only provide infrastructure to better connect communities to education and employment opportunities, but it will also significantly improve the offer to organisations looking to locate here with enhanced access to the airport and the fourth-busiest train station in Scotland. “This will be another flagship project for Renfrewshire following the completion of the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project, which included the new Renfrew Bridge, and will be further proof of the Council’s ability to successfully deliver nationally significant infrastructure projects which bring substantial benefits now and for generations to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals