Work to build HS2’s 700-metre-long Burton Green Tunnel in Warwickshire has reached the halfway mark, with new images and video footage showcasing the latest progress. Once built, the tunnel will carry HS2 trains through the village of Burton Green, near Kenilworth, and will feature a green space above for use by the local community. It is one of five ‘green tunnels’ being built on the project – shallower tunnels which will be finished with trees, plants and shrubs on top, helping them blend into the natural landscape. As well as Burton Green, green tunnels will be constructed at Copthall in Hillingdon, Wendover in Buckinghamshire and Chipping Warden and Greatworth, both in Northamptonshire. Delivered by HS2’s main works civils contractor for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), and designed by Mott MacDonald engineers from the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture (DJV), the Burton Green structure is being constructed using a ‘top down’ construction method which involves building the structure from existing ground level. This includes initially building the side walls and roof of the tunnel, with large openings to ease excavation. The tunnel is then excavated and the tunnel base is constructed. In the last year, work on the tunnel has ramped up and has seen the completion of the 200-metre-long southern portal entrance and a series of underground structural elements, including retaining walls and over 1,300 piles – concrete pillars built underground – using 33,000 cubic metres of concrete in total. An onsite team of 150 people will now focus on the next phase of the build ahead of full completion in Autumn 2026. This includes further tunnel excavation work – with excavated soil being reused as part of wider landscaping plans – and the installation of roof slabs, base slabs and internal structures. Doug Barnett, Senior Project Manager for HS2 Ltd, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have achieved the 50% completion mark here at Burton Green Tunnel and to be celebrating this milestone moment. Delivering a complex structure of this scale requires a huge amount of expertise and energy, which is thanks to everyone involved – from onsite engineers and machine operators, to design and support colleagues working behind the scenes.” A key feature of the Burton Green Tunnel for people in the local area is the realignment of the Kenilworth Greenway, which provides a link from Balsall Common to Kenilworth via Burton Green for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. Once construction and landscape work is complete, the Greenway will be restored close to its original alignment, running across the top of the new tunnel. While the railway is being built, HS2 has created a temporary route for the Kenilworth Greenway which starts at the site of the Burton Green Village Hall and then follows the existing field boundaries linking with Berkswell Station in the northwest. Rupert Blake, Project Manager for Balfour Beatty VINCI, said: “As an engineer, it’s hugely rewarding to lead the delivery of the 700-metre-long Burton Green Tunnel in Warwickshire. This is a fascinating structure both in terms of scale and complexity, but its green characteristics are what really sets this tunnel apart. When it’s complete, the roof will be finished with trees, plants and shrubs, so it blends in seamlessly with the existing landscape.” Tim Akers, Engineering Manager for Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture, said: “We’re extremely proud of the Burton Green Tunnel design, which we’ve been working on and evolving over the past five years, in close collaboration with the local community and other stakeholders. The result is a ‘railway within a landscape’ where the original character of the Kenilworth Greenway and ecological connectivity to the wider landscape are restored.” As construction continues at pace between the West Midlands and London, HS2 now supports more than 31,000 jobs. When complete, Britain’s new high-speed railway will create quicker and more reliable journeys, driving economic growth while crucially freeing up space for more local trains on the most congested part of the existing West Coast Main Line. In recent weeks, HS2 construction progress in the West Midlands has seen work start on the 2,000 underground columns that will support the flagship Birmingham Curzon Street Station, as well as the beginning of foundation work for a new bridge designed to carry HS2 trains under a section of the A38 near Lichfield. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Government of Jersey has granted planning consent for the first phase of the St Helier Harbour Regeneration This long-term project, led by Ports of Jersey, will renew ageing infrastructure and improve facilities for passenger and freight traffic to secure the viability of the lifeline port and its associated harbours which have served the people of Jersey and visitors to the island for 250 years. The scheme,  by global urbanism and architecture practice Broadway Malyan, responds to an initial ‘sense of place’ study and extensive consultation process. The first phase of implementation will deliver a new harbourside environment, rooted in St Helier’s historic and cultural heritage, that will deliver significantly improved user experience and facilities for the local community and travellers. The proposals, centred on Elizabeth Harbour, include a passenger terminal, customs and inspection facilities and freight distribution centre within a significant area of waterside public realm, connected to St Helier via network of landscaped routes, that will extend the town’s green infrastructure. The masterplan locates the passenger terminal and linear park alongside Elizabeth Marina creating a waterfront destination with significant views over the Jersey coastline and towards Elizabeth Castle. Importantly, this strategy will see the removal of high concrete walls that have severed the port estate from St Helier town centre for the past 35 years. The linear park will extend existing active travel routes for pedestrians and cyclists whilst also providing opportunities for rest and play. The passenger terminal takes a curved form that responds to the coastline, and its structure and materiality draw inspiration from the rich character of the port and sea transport. A modular approach has been developed for the building, using standardised components to enable future expansion if needed, and to maximise off-site manufacture with the aim of minimising the amount of energy used in the construction process. A passive design approach, including low and zero carbon technologies have been incorporated into the building. The façade uses just five repeatable elements resulting in paired back, highly-engineered appearance. Vertical fins project from the façade to shade the building’s interior and adding visual depth to the elevations when seen from a distance. Coastal views are preserved through solar controlled, low-emissivity glazing to help moderate the internal environment, combined with a system of mechanical façade openings that facilitate a mixed-mode ventilation strategy to reduce operational carbon to help meet Ports of Jersey’s net zero goal for harbour operations by 2030. All buildings feature biodiverse green roofs with integrated photovoltaic panels and are linked by a district energy network designed for future connection to water source heat pumps, utilising seawater from the harbour as the primary energy source to will further reduce the harbour’s carbon footprint. The public realm design significantly reduces material sent to landfill by repurposing the dismantled concrete walls as retaining structures and beneath landscaped berms that have been introduced to provide shelter from the wind and mounds that children can use for informal play. A significant area of existing paving will also be used alongside new material. To reduce waste, un-trimmed slabs will be laid with informal edges along soft-planted or gravel beds reminiscent of coastal boardwalks. The exterior spaces feature marine tolerant trees planted in a pinetum near the water’s edge with deciduous tree species planting in an arboretum towards the town. To activate the public realm, the design team proposes a series of art installations and sonic sculptures, including maritime flotsam and jetsam from redundant buoys to ships funnels to create a wayfinding trail from the town, through the site, culminating at a new observation pier. Team Client: Ports of JerseyArchitecture & Landscape Design: Broadway MalyanArchitecture & Public Art Strategy: WaddingtonSustainability, Building Services, Transport, Project & Cost Management: Mott MacdonaldStructural & Civil Engineering: HartiganSense of Place: Louise Browne Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Balfour Beatty VINCI and its UK materials suppliers have now provided over one million cubic metres of concrete for HS2 in the West Midlands as the railway’s network of viaducts and bridges continues to take shape. With a total of 1.9 million cubic metres of concrete needed for the 90km stretch of railway structures, this means over 50% of the required concrete has been used. Balfour Beatty VINCI has three concrete suppliers, keeping their order books full for the foreseeable future, and supporting over 250 jobs. Aggregate Industries, Tarmac and Cemex have batched and delivered the one million cubic metres of concrete, with the milestone achieved on the Chattle Hill structure at the Delta Junction in North Warwickshire. There are 11 local batching plants supplying the concrete, five of which are on HS2 sites. The entire concrete programme in the West Midlands is managed by a dedicated Balfour Beatty VINCI team at HS2’s Kingsbury site near Lea Marston. The use of low carbon concrete mixes is an integral part of Balfour Beatty VINCI’s concrete supply strategy. High proportions of secondary materials – namely ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) as part of the total cementitious content is embedded into the design and specification for all mixes. Balfour Beatty VINCI has worked with its supply chain to optimise mixes based on the performance required, maximising the content of GGBS and minimising total cementitious contents to reduce carbon and cost. The mixes supplied cover a wide range of uses from deep foundations up to 30 metres placed via tremie pipes, large structural elements where the concrete is pumped into place, to the onsite precast factories producing segments for both tunnel lining and the large viaduct spans. A number of fully electric trucks are being used to transport the concrete to sites, with two of HS2’s batching plants able to run off semi-battery technology, further reducing the project’s carbon footprint. Balfour Beatty VINCI and their suppliers have also implemented a digital measuring system – VERIFI – which enables real-time monitoring, measurement and management of fresh concrete during transportation. This eliminates waste, cuts carbon and improves productivity. Chris Jones, Senior Construction Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI Joint Venture said: “The planning, communication and logistics management needed to achieve this milestone cannot be underestimated. Working in partnership with our three concrete suppliers, the team have kept this massive operation moving, supporting delivery of HS2’s construction programme in the region. “Carbon reduction is a big part of our materials strategy, and we’ve worked closely with our supply chain to minimise the total cementitious contents in order to cut carbon and cost.” Jon Knights, Materials and Durability Lead at HS2 said: “The operation to manage the materials needed to build HS2’s structures is hugely complex, so this milestone is a great achievement for the whole team.  “With more than half the concrete poured for structures in the West Midlands, we’re well on the way to completing the viaducts and bridges that will carry the country’s new high-speed railway through the region.” Aggregate Industries are supplying concrete for the Delta Junction structures, where the scale of HS2’s construction programme is now clearly visible. A network of 13 viaducts is being built over the complex network of motorways, railway lines and rivers in the North Warwickshire area. The Chattle Hill structure – where the milestone was achieved – will carry four HS2 tracks over the A446 Lichfield Road on the mainline of the railway between London and Handsacre. The structure is 165m long, 8.3m high and 23m wide. Over 4,100 cubic metres out of a total of around 10,200 cubic metres of concrete have been used for the structure to date. The A446 diversion to take the road under the new Chattle Hill structure was completed at the end of October 2024, with the second phase of construction set to start. This includes the central reservation piers, northern abutments and decks that will span over the A446. Tarmac is supplying to the southern end of the route through Warwickshire, along with Washwood Heath and the Curzon approaches viaducts in Birmingham. Cemex are also providing material in Birmingham, as well as for structures being built in Staffordshire. Construction of HS2 continues at pace between the West Midlands and London, with the programme now supporting more than 31,000 jobs. When complete, HS2 services will run between London and the West Midlands on a dedicated high-speed line before reaching destinations further north via the existing West Coast Main Line. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

London Stansted recently revealed details of a five-year £1.1bn investment programme that will deliver wide-ranging benefits to passengers and help secure links to even more global destinations. The centrepiece of the plans is a £600m extension to the airport’s existing terminal, which will create a bright spacious environment, with more seating areas plus new shops, bars and restaurants to give travellers even more choice than they have today. The plans were first announced at the government’s International Investment Summit yesterday and follow London Stansted reporting record-breaking passenger numbers for each month in 2024. Planning permission for the extension was secured last October, and Stansted today released images and a video to showcase its plans for the first time. The terminal development will help enable the airport serve up to 43 million passengers a year, which in turn will create up to 5,000 new on-site jobs, and see the airport’s economic contribution double to £2 billion annually. Also included in the airport’s £1.1bn investment programme are a number of projects to enhance the passenger journey and support Stansted’s commitment to deliver a sustainable future, such as: In addition, a number of other projects have already been completed or underway with airport partners, including a new EV charging forecourt and drive-thru restaurants, new Emirates business lounge and new baggage reclaim carousel. Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said:  “Stansted is embarking on an exciting new chapter. We aim to add even more choice of airlines to continue growing our extensive route network that is valued and enjoyed by the millions of passengers who choose to fly from London Stansted every year. “We are already welcoming a record number of passengers, with people drawn to the fact we give them a great choice of destinations, at excellent value and with fantastic access into central London and the whole of the East of England. “We are unique among major airports in operating a single terminal, which means we can give people a simple, efficient and seamless experience, which we know they value, whether travelling for business, leisure or to visit friends and family. These exciting plans mean we are able to retain all those benefits, while introducing an array of new facilities and giving us the space we need to grow. “Since receiving planning permission last October, our teams have carefully considered every touch point of a passenger’s journey through the terminal to ensure the extension transforms the airport experience by adding more space, choice, comfort and range of services on offer, from check-in right through to arrivals. I believe we have successfully achieved this while maintaining the ease, simplicity and original design concept of our fantastic terminal building. “This is a really exciting time for everyone connected with Stansted as we know we have a critical role to play in serving the future capacity needs of London. Our aim is to be the airport of choice for even more passengers and we’re confident our investment plans will boost our competitiveness within the London aviation market, as well as supporting economic growth, jobs and vital international connectivity for London and the East of England.” The extension to Stansted’s terminal will add three-bays to the back of the terminal building, extending it by 16,500m2. The updated design also reveals an enlarged immigration hall moving from its current location, freeing up additional space for a bigger departure lounge plus new larger arrivals baggage carousels. The more spacious departure lounge will feature additional seating, a greater choice of shops, bars and restaurants, and a larger security hall with more security lanes equipped with next-generation scanners. The extension will also provide more state-of-the-art check-in desks plus increased baggage capacity. Stansted served a record breaking 29.3 million passengers in the year to September 2024, the busiest 12-month period in the airport’s history, and as it now enters a new phase of growth, the extended terminal will improve capacity at busy times and provide the extra space required to accommodate forecast growth.  Over the past 12 months, a number of new airlines have started flying from Stansted for the first time, including Royal Jordanian and Sun Express, plus the welcome return of British Airways, boosting the number of destinations on the departure board to more than 200 this summer. Video graphics of the new extension can be viewed here. Jackie Sadek, Independent Chair of the UK Innovation Corridor, said: “This is to be welcomed with open arms. London Stansted provides vital underpinning for the current £189bn per annum GVA of the UK Innovation Corridor, and this new investment will be crucial for our shared mission to double the size of our economy by 2040.  We are definitely on our way.” John Dickie, Chief Executive of BusinessLDN, said: “As a gateway to the world, London Stansted plays a critical role in welcoming visitors to London and the UK. This investment is a vote of confidence in the capital that will boost our global connectivity and enhance the experience of passengers. It will also underpin regional growth and will help us remain a world leader in the highly competitive international market.” Harriet Fear, Chair of Cambridge Ahead, said: “International connectivity is vitally important for organisations based in the innovative sectors that are so strong in the East of England, making London Stansted key to the success of the region and beyond. This significant new investment into the airport’s infrastructure, which will help create an even better experience for passengers and support the airport’s long-term route development aims, is wonderful to see.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has announced plans for electrification and the dates of a public consultation on the latest designs and plans for its project which will link Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.     The 10-week non-statutory consultation will run from 14 November 2024 to 24 January 2025, offering communities along the route a crucial opportunity to have their say on the latest plans and shape the future design of the railway.   EWR Co has confirmed its preference for green traction power in the form of discontinuous electrification with hybrid battery-electric trains, after the Chancellor confirmed government support for the project in yesterday’s Budget.  As well as the environmental benefits such as reducing carbon emissions, discontinuous electrification would mean overhead lines would only need to be installed along some sections of the route, which would significantly reduce disruption during construction and potentially decrease visual impacts in more sensitive locations along the new railway. This option would also cost less than full electrification, reducing the need to alter current structures and requiring less land for things such as mast foundations.  As well as electrification, the consultation will provide latest designs and information on East West Rail, including:   David Hughes, CEO, EWR Co, said: “We’re excited to confirm our plans for electrification, which support our environmental goals by delivering sustainable low carbon journeys and supporting the UK’s transition to an overall net zero carbon economy.    “This consultation is a pivotal moment in our journey to create a railway that truly serves the needs of our communities and delivers sustainable growth for the region and the whole country by improving access to jobs, education and public services.  “East West Rail represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to connect communities across the Oxford-Cambridge region. We invite everyone to take part in our consultation and share their feedback on our proposals to create a positive legacy for future generations who will live and work in the area.”   Consultation events will be held at various locations along the entire proposed route, including some weekend dates and online events, to widen opportunities for people to attend. A Virtual Consultation Room will also be available, where all the information shown at the public events can be accessed online in a virtual room.  For those unable to attend in person, all consultation materials will be available online, with multiple ways to provide feedback.   The consultation, originally planned for summer 2024, was rescheduled due to the General Election. This new timeframe covers the Christmas and New Year holiday period, but to ensure ensures that communities have ample opportunity to engage with the project and shape its development, the consultation period runs for an additional two weeks and concludes on 24th January.    For more information about the consultation and how to get involved, please visit our consultation page or contact our helpdesk at contact@eastwestrail.co.uk  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

TWO major contracts have been awarded through Pagabo’s civil engineering and infrastructure framework, which will shape the future of the London Underground’s famous Piccadilly line.   The ambitious Piccadilly Line Upgrade project will modernise one of London’s busiest Underground lines, which originally opened in 1906. The work will see the introduction of new trains, increased capacity and an improved passenger experience. As part of the works, Transport for London (TfL) has – through Pagabo’s civil engineering and infrastructure framework – awarded contracts to VolkerFitzpatrick and Taylor Woodrow to deliver Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) services for the Cockfosters and Northfield Depots respectively.   The new depots will be crucial in supporting the operation and maintenance of 94 new trains, with the two contractors being appointed under one procurement. The swift and streamlined process has allowed TfL to quickly appoint its preferred parties to get work underway, while adhering to all the usual compliancy required for such contracts.   David Llewellyn, head of construction and infrastructure at Pagabo, said: “We are thrilled to have facilitated this important procurement for TfL, bringing together two exceptional contractors, VolkerFitzpatrick and Taylor Woodrow.   “With our extensive knowledge and expertise in compliant procurement – particularly with the upcoming Procurement Act changes – our team was able to work closely with TfL throughout to ensure a swift and smooth process adhering to procurement regulations. This allowed the procurement of VolkerFitzpatrick and Taylor Woodrow to be accelerated, putting them both in place to get ECI services underway for the respective depots as soon as possible.  “As one of Europe’s largest metropolitan transport authorities, it’s fantastic to be handling these two appointments for TfL, providing our support and experience throughout. This is just the first of many more large-scale infrastructure projects that have been procured through our civil engineering and infrastructure framework this year, including nine other projects for TfL and Places for London.”  The project for the Piccadilly Line Upgrade depots at Cockfosters and Northfields has been split into two phases procured simultaneously, with the ECI stage proceeding the detailed design and build stage. Both phases will be delivered under the NEC3 form of contract.  Paul Lilley, divisional director, rail and depots, at VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “We are delighted to be starting our first contract procured through Pagabo’s civil engineering and infrastructure framework by offering support to essential upgrades to the Piccadilly line’s Cockfosters Depot. Our collaboration with Pagabo, TfL, and our supply chain partners will be crucial for the successful and safe execution of this project. We look forward to sustainably modernising the Piccadilly line, ensuring it is fit for future use.”  Evangelos Maltezos, Project Director at Taylor Woodrow said: “We are thrilled to have been appointed a key role in the Piccadilly Line Upgrade, and enhancing the lives of commuters.  “We are looking forward to demonstrating our technical expertise, our capability in managing complex interfaces and fostering a collaborative approach to achieving success on the project.”  As part of the Piccadilly Line Upgrade project, new facilities will be delivered to enable the operation and maintenance of the line’s new trains, which are being built by Siemens Mobility. Construction of the new facilities is expected to start in 2025.  For more information, please visit https://pagabo.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

HS2’s engineers have celebrated a double milestone in the construction of two huge viaducts that will eventually carry the high-speed railway across a floodplain. The work, near Brackley, saw the successful completion of a 2,695 tonnes deck slide for the Westbury viaduct as well as construction of the abutments at either end of the nearby Turweston viaduct. Set low in the landscape to the east of the town, the twin viaducts cross the floodplain of the River Great Ouse which passes under the new high-speed railway twice as it meanders through Buckinghamshire and West Northants. Three miles apart and built using similar designs, the two structures use an unusual ‘double composite’ approach, with layers of reinforced concrete above and below the steel beams, creating a super-efficient box-beam. This approach uses less carbon-intensive concrete and steel than a more traditional design. The deck of the Westbury viaduct – which stretches for 320m – was assembled in three stages, ranging from 84m to 135m with each one pushed out from the north abutment before the next section was attached behind it. This painstaking, six-month long process meant that the weight of the deck increased with each push, up from an initial 1,145 tonnes at the start of work in March – to 2,695 tonnes by the time it reached the south abutment last week. During the slide, special pads covered in Teflon – a material usually found on the surface of a non-stick frying pan – were used to cut friction between the deck and the temporary steel bearings on top of each of the concrete piers. Engineers were also celebrating at the nearby Turweston viaduct this week with the completion of the two abutments, which will support either end of the 80m long structure. Focus will now turn to assembling the deck girders ready for launch of the 591-tonne structure early next year. HS2 Ltd’s Senior Project Manager, Elizabeth Longinotti said: “It’s been incredible to watch the enormous deck at Westbury come together over the last year and see it so carefully slid into position. I’d like to thank everyone who helped make it happen – and I look forward to seeing similar progress at Turweston in the coming months. “The innovative double composite structure they share has huge potential to cut carbon in construction by enabling more efficient bridges and I hope that the lessons we have learnt can be successfully applied to other projects across the UK in the future.” Both viaducts are being built by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor, EKFB – a team made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall – with the manufacture and installation of the beams being led by specialists at Eiffage Metal. With the steelwork now in position at Westbury, engineers can begin the challenging job of lowering the deck 60cm onto the permanent bearings which will support the full weight of the structure. The two-month long operation will see the steelwork above each pier carefully lowered by 20cm at a time, pier-by pier, until the whole 320m long deck settles into its final position. EKFB’s Project Director, Tony Wehby said: “As the Project Director for the Twyford to Greatworth area, I am immensely proud of our team’s dedication and hard work in achieving this double milestone. The innovative ‘double composite’ design not only showcases our commitment to engineering excellence but also highlights our efforts to reduce carbon emissions in construction. “This achievement is a testament to the skill and perseverance of everyone involved, and I look forward to seeing continued progress on the Turweston viaduct.” The last few months has also seen significant progress at HS2’s other major viaducts, including the key structures that will form the Delta Junction in North Warwickshire and the viaducts taking the railway into Birmingham Curzon Street. In total, HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures – ranging from small road bridges to the record-breaking Colne Valley Viaduct which became the longest railway bridge in the UK when the deck was finished earlier this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals