HS2 has completed the four huge piers of the Curzon 2 bridge, marking a significant construction milestone on the sequence of viaducts that will take high-speed trains in and out of Birmingham. The bridge, which has been nicknamed “Bellingham Bridge” in honour of England superstar and Stourbridge-born Jude Bellingham, is
“It was a rare opportunity to celebrate all that is special about this place, to remind people of the rich industrial heritage, of the globally recognised engineering and construction expertise that occurred on both banks of the Clyde” – Tony Kettle, Kettle Collective. From a striking glass façade in Reykjavik
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 started work on the second project awarded to it under the Lincolnshire County Council highways framework contract. Work has begun on the resurfacing and signal
The main contractor, Balfour Beatty, approached Aquaspira with a request to provide a proposal for an efficient, low carbon solution for a Network Rail culvert alongside a rail embankment at Hook in Hampshire. Sub-contractor DDL installed a dam at each end of the fast-flowing river below the rail line at
Harworth Group has secured a resolution to grant planning permission from North Yorkshire Council for the development of a major rail-connected industrial and logistics hub at its 185 acre Gascoigne Interchange site in Leeds. The approved plans will see the development of up to 1.5 million sq. ft. of industrial
Metrolink has hit another milestone with the UK’s largest light-rail network enjoying its busiest month ever in its 32-year history. Millions of people got on board in May which proved to be a bumper month for events including the Great Manchester Run, Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning parade and high-profile
E-learning collaboration to boost staff’s decarbonisation knowledge… The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) is collaborating with Kier Transportation to deliver essential (digital) eLearning to support Kier achieve their decarbonisation goals. This collaboration involves Kier Transportation using CIHT’s specifically designed courses that relate to climate change learning. These courses
Mark Wild OBE has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd to lead the completion of the high-speed railway and help realise its transformational benefits. As one of the most respected figures in the infrastructure industry, Mark brings almost four decades-worth of experience to the role. This
Liverpool City Region has unveiled images of the new £100 million Liverpool Baltic Station scheme, one of four planned stations. Recently re-elected Liverpool City Region, Mayor Steve Rotheram, has committed to completing the project by the end of 2027 which is a year ahead of its current schedule. Plans for
Leading civil engineering and building contractor Farrans Construction has completed an innovative tunnelling operation on Northumbrian Water’s Project Pipeline: County Durham and Tees Valley as a specialist tunnel boring machine has completed an underground crossing of the River Tees. The 220m tunnel is part of Phase 1 of a new
HS2 has completed the four huge piers of the Curzon 2 bridge, marking a significant construction milestone on the sequence of viaducts that will take high-speed trains in and out of Birmingham. The bridge, which has been nicknamed “Bellingham Bridge” in honour of England superstar and Stourbridge-born Jude Bellingham, is the tallest structure in the one-mile stretch of connected viaducts being built through the city’s industrial heartland. It will carry high-speed trains over the existing Victorian brick rail viaduct, with a 25-metre-high curved truss displaying a vibrant light installation which will create a new icon on the city’s skyline. Work began on the four piers in Autumn 2023, with each structure now standing 16 metres tall. Assembly of the deck and the curved truss in weathering steel, has now started and is set to complete by next Spring. The 150-metre-long deck is being assembled on top of the seven piers of the adjacent Curzon 1 viaduct, with around 130 individual parts lifted by crane. The entire deck and truss structure, which weighs over 4,000 tonnes, will then be slid 190 metres into place onto the Curzon 2 piers using a jacking system. This operation is set to take place over 12 days in Summer 2025. The viaduct includes a unique light installation, designed by British artist Liz West, which will introduce a dynamic colour palette to the apertures of the steel truss, framing views of the city. Titled Out of the Blue, the proposed public artwork will create a dramatic feature in Birmingham’s urban landscape. As the gateway to Birmingham, high speed trains will travel out of the west portal of the 3.5 mile Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath and onto the one mile long stretch of five connected viaducts – Duddeston Junction, Curzon 1, Curzon 2, Lawley Middleway and Curzon 3 which links onto the platforms of Curzon Street Station. The Curzon approach viaducts are being built by HS2’s West Midlands contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI, with a team of more than 250 people, including engineering apprentices, steel welders, steel fixers and joiners. David King, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd said: “With the completion of these four huge viaduct piers, HS2’s gateway into Birmingham has taken another leap forward. “Passengers travelling on the new high-speed trains will experience a fantastic entrance to the city as they emerge from Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath, and rise up onto this striking stretch of viaducts on the approach to the new state-of-the-art Curzon Street Station.” Onder Akin, Senior Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “This iconic bridge is part of a complex series of connected viaducts that will weave through Birmingham’s industrial heartland. I’m proud of how the BBV team has responded to the challenge of building these structures in such a busy urban space, working around existing rail lines and utilities. “The completion of the four 16-metre-high piers to support the bridge shows the great progress we’re making, and the team is now preparing for the operation next year, which we believe will be among the longest bridge launches of its type ever delivered in the UK.” The design for the Curzon Street approaches section has been developed by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra and architects Weston Williamson + Partners, all working for Balfour Beatty VINCI. Nicholas Robertshaw, Design Project Director at Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture said: “It’s clear to see from the height of the completed piers that the Curzon 2 viaduct will be become an iconic part of Birmingham’s skyline, referencing the city’s industrial heritage. “The work done to date is a testament to the collaborative efforts made by all parties to design this vital piece of transport infrastructure in a way which will benefit passengers and deliver a lasting legacy for the wider Birmingham community.” A truss bridge is light but strong, composed of connected elements that form triangular units, and constructed using a relatively small amount of material. This makes the truss form ideal to assemble offline and then launch from one end and in one piece across the existing railway viaduct below. The truss has been designed to ‘wrap’ around the viaduct, extending the bottom of the steel to wrap underneath the viaduct deck and forming a visual connection to the steel girders of the adjacent structures. The viaduct deck itself will carry three parallel high speed rail tracks over the existing east-west rail line. When complete, HS2 will improve connections between London and the West Midlands, with trains running further north on existing lines. This new high speed railway will create quicker and far 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. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
“It was a rare opportunity to celebrate all that is special about this place, to remind people of the rich industrial heritage, of the globally recognised engineering and construction expertise that occurred on both banks of the Clyde” – Tony Kettle, Kettle Collective. From a striking glass façade in Reykjavik designed to capture the essence of the northern lights all-year-round to an Eden-type garden in a low-energy office tower in Bahrain, world-renowned architect Tony Kettle continues to challenge his natural curiosity with projects across the globe. His work on the Dewa Solar Innovation Centre in Dubai, which uses the latest technologies for renewable energy and combines it with Arabic geometry and the Fibonacci sequence, has received architectural acclaim – winning the RSA prize in Scotland and a LEED Platinum award as a benchmark for the Middle East region – and he had a hand in the initial designs of Europe’s tallest building, the Lakhta Centre in St Petersburg. While proud of his success abroad, it’s a project much closer to home though that piqued Tony’s interest in a way others couldn’t, and he jumped at the chance to design the first opening road bridge across the River Clyde – a £117million project led by Renfrewshire Council. Tony said: “It’s fantastic to work closer to home. It means more if you are given a chance to contribute to improving people’s lives close to where you live. “Shipbuilding on the Clyde inspired our design. The visual history of cranes juxtaposed against each other and the way the dry docks are cut into the banks at an angle. The challenge was to capture that spirit of movement in the angles of the new bridge structure, and to accentuate the fact this is a moving structure, not just another static bridge. “The Renfrew Bridge is both a physical and symbolic connection, a celebration of the coming together of two communities that will undoubtedly benefit from having closer ties. It will create a gateway and a destination that should bring more people together to enjoy the riverbank and celebrate the history and rich cultural heritage that they share. “It was a rare opportunity to celebrate all that is special about this place, to remind people of the rich industrial heritage, of the globally recognised engineering and construction expertise that occurred on both banks of the Clyde. What better way to celebrate it than with a new innovative moving structure.” Visiting the site to see the arrival of the final section of the bridge, Tony was delighted to see his designs come off the page and into existence. “It’s fantastic to see the bridge in the flesh and I’m honoured and immensely grateful to the engineers and fabricators for their skills and ingenuity to make it a reality. I have learned over the years to be very patient as projects can be designed quickly but can take so long to materialise, so it’s great to see it arrive on the Clyde and for the project to move closer to completion. “It will clearly improve transport connections between Clydebank, Yoker and Renfrew, but it will also give a focus and raise the profile of the towns as people and businesses are attracted to one of the longest span cable-stayed opening bridges in the world. People will be proud, and it will be a real landmark for the area and the seed for much wider regeneration.” Tony formed the Kettle Collective with friend and managing director Colin Bone 12 years ago and their architectural studio now incorporates around 70 designers, each with their own focus on contextual design, sustainability and low energy solutions – with the recent Queen’s Award for Sustainability confirming their place at the forefront of international sustainable design. With offices now in Edinburgh, London and the Middle East, Tony continues to further an inspiring career that all began with a few sketches at home. Tony said: “My father inspired me to be what I am today. He was an engineer and used to do beautiful hand drawings with a single line and no mistakes. When you’re young, it’s these kinds of things that shape who you want to be, even if you don’t realise it at the time. “We spent a lot of time in Sri Lanka when I was growing up while my father worked on the Victoria Dam, a beautiful double parabolic curved structure, and I learned so much about the importance of climate, culture, and context. “Inspired to be a designer, I studied at Edinburgh Art College, then worked my way through the ranks at RMJM to be International Design Principal. From there, I formed the Kettle Collective with Colin and haven’t looked back since.” Now with more than 35 years of experience in the industry, Tony Kettle is still famed in Scotland for his work to create the Falkirk Wheel, the hugely successful tourist attraction that combines art and engineering to create a moving boat sculpture that thousands have visited since it first opened in 2002. It was while playing with his daughter and her Lego that he felt the creative spark for the project and this led to a design which has been featured as an example of Scottish innovation on the £50 note and within the British passport. “I was making a Lego helicopter for my daughter and realised the gearing could be used to maintain the horizontality of the caissons containing the water and boats. Maybe it’s just me that would think like that while playing with Lego, but sometimes the simplest tools are the best to understand a problem – and my daughter is still waiting to get her Lego back to this day! “It is great to see that my completed design has enticed so many people to visit and enjoy the waterways, and I think the Falkirk Wheel is recognised globally now as part of our inventive culture as a nation. I visit now and then, almost as though visiting an old friend, and
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 started work on the second project awarded to it under the Lincolnshire County Council highways framework contract. Work has begun on the resurfacing and signal improvement scheme on Newland, between Carholme Road and Mint Street, along with sections of Wigford Way, Mint Lane and Lucy Tower Street. As part of proposed works, Winvic will be improving multiple highway assets, including drainage, footways, kerbs, surfacing, traffic signals and road markings. The General Works Lot contract is designed to deliver new infrastructure assets and improvements across the County over a four-year period. Winvic commenced construction in April, and work is expected to be completed by November 2024. Activities at Carholme Road and Lucy Tower Street junction feature the replacement and upgrade of existing signal equipment, new construction of traffic islands and footways replacements. Newland will see footpath replacements, and new carriageway surfacing. Altogether it is expected some 9,800sq m of new carriageway will be placed, plus 2,200sq m of footpath asphalt, 100m of new drainage systems, alongside repair works on gullies and ironwork renewals. Winvic will oversee traffic management, implementing lane closures and one-way restrictions on westbound Newland traffic. The resurfacing works will primarily occur overnight towards the end of the programme with full road closures in place. As part of its social value commitments to the region, Winvic is also engaging local schools through careers talks and on an art project, which will see the pupils’ winning creations printed on the construction site hoarding. Winvic is furthering its community support by donating copies of the ‘When I Grow Up’ book to local schoolchildren, has sponsored the Greenbank JFC U9s football team, and has installed defibrillators on city centre site hoardings. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure, adds: We’re delighted to have been awarded our second highways scheme as part of the four-year Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) highways framework. “We look forward to building an even stronger relationship with LCC’s team while delivering these transformative infrastructure improvements. Our commitment extends beyond construction through to actively engaging with the local community and promoting safety. “We look forward to delivering these essential upgrades with minimal disruption and maximum benefits to nearby communities, businesses and road users.” Jared Taylor, Winvic’s Contracts Director, adds: “We are very proud that Winvic is exceeding expectations on this project and that our dedication to positively impacting the local community is being warmly received. It’s truly a pleasure to be supporting schools in the county through our ongoing social value initiatives. “Winvic is working extremely hard to ensure works are progressed quickly and efficiently to avoid disruption and long-lasting infrastructure improvements are delivered across Lincoln. Much of this success is due to our diligent and highly dedicated workforce.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (Formally Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The main contractor, Balfour Beatty, approached Aquaspira with a request to provide a proposal for an efficient, low carbon solution for a Network Rail culvert alongside a rail embankment at Hook in Hampshire. Sub-contractor DDL installed a dam at each end of the fast-flowing river below the rail line at Hook in Hampshire. This created a 40-metre-long channel to facilitate the delivery of a new 26-metre buried culvert. Needing to overcome the challenge of an incredibly confined space, two lines of Aquaspira 1,650mm composite steel reinforced (CSR) pipe was laid once the water had been pumped out and a metre of silt removed from the riverbed. These were finished with a new 4.8 metre, 350m-wide headwall. The pipes were then backfilled and built up to existing ground line and an access road was installed to provide Network Rail plant access to the above railway line. With Aquaspira CSR pipe, the embodied factory gate and transport carbon was reduced by 48% (12.4T CO₂e¹) when compared to a traditional rigid pipe solution. The lightweight pipes also increased site safety and reduced site installation time. The steel reinforced pipes were designed to withstand the weight of trains, so Aquaspira is delighted to have been selected to deliver the ideal solution for this challenging job. Gareth Green, Aquaspira’s project manager, explained: “The existing open culvert was relatively narrow, so maximising the capacity of the new piped culvert within the available width was crucial. “Aquaspira CSR pipes were specified as, with their 43mm thick wall, the pipe’s footprint width was less than 3.8m and, as each pipe weighs less than 250 kgs, they could be handled and installed with small site machines. This, coupled with the push-fit joints and integral seals enabled quick and simple joining of them within a limited working space, dramatically shortening the programme time.” Josh Moore, DDLWorks Manager, added: “The Aquaspira service and product was excellent. The 1650mm OD pipes were the largest I have installed, and it was made so simple through their design and self-explanatory installation guide provided, along with assistance via phone call at any moment required. I would 100 per cent recommend you to any client or customer and look forward to working alongside again in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Harworth Group has secured a resolution to grant planning permission from North Yorkshire Council for the development of a major rail-connected industrial and logistics hub at its 185 acre Gascoigne Interchange site in Leeds. The approved plans will see the development of up to 1.5 million sq. ft. of industrial and logistics space at Gascoigne Interchange, in line with the Group’s strategy to increase its direct development of industrial and logistics space from its extensive landbank, and has the potential to deliver up to £190 million gross development value (GDV). The proposal is the delivery of seven units, ranging from 57,000 sq. ft. to 1.0 million sq. ft., all built to Grade A specification, with Harworth expecting to start on site in 2025. The brownfield site is one of Harworth’s next-generation of development sites and is situated in Selby, to the east of Leeds and adjacent to Sherburn Industrial Estate. It is one of the most strategically located, rail-connected sites in the region, enabling future occupiers to utilise the existing main line rail connection from the site for a wide variety of uses, including low carbon freight movement. The site, which is accessed via Junction 42 of the A1(M), has an extensive collection of rail sidings on either side of Network Rail’s Leeds to Hull main line route, with current operational connections into the northern and southern plots on the site. The rail access to the north of the site offers scope to create a dedicated railhead serving the buildings on site, with the ability to handle containers, bulk commodities or next-generation express freight services, and puts most of the UK within three hours of the site. The plots to the south of the site benefit from 1,200 metres of frontage onto the main line with connections at either end capable of accommodating a major intermodal terminal for on-site and off-site customers. The absence of speculative institutional funding and increasing tenant prioritisation for highly sustainable space is forecast to underpin strong demand for strategically-connected, Grade A industrial units in the Yorkshire region over the medium term, according to Knight Frank. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Metrolink has hit another milestone with the UK’s largest light-rail network enjoying its busiest month ever in its 32-year history. Millions of people got on board in May which proved to be a bumper month for events including the Great Manchester Run, Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning parade and high-profile concerts at the Co-Op Live. During the month 4.1 million people travelled on Metrolink across Greater Manchester, setting a new record for monthly patronage since the network opened in 1992. The previous record of 4 million was set in November 2019. Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Chief Network Officer, said: “This is a historic achievement for Metrolink and is the result of a huge team effort between TfGM and the operator KeolisAmey Metrolink over the last few years. “It shows just how important Metrolink is for Greater Manchester, as well as demonstrating Metrolink’s integral role as part of the Bee Network. It is also a testament to the staff on the frontlines and behind the scenes who keep the network running reliably. “This growth in passenger numbers, together with our renewed focus on tackling fare evasion is helping to get Metrolink back on track following the decline in passengers during the pandemic. “This is just one of many milestones that Metrolink has hit since 6th April 1992, and with work under way to improve the network and make it quicker, smoother and more reliable for passengers, I am confident that Metrolink will continue to go from strength to strength.” Damien Chabas, Managing Director of KeolisAmey Metrolink, said: “Metrolink plays a vital role in delivering a safe, reliable, and accessible public transport services for the around 900,000 people who choose to travel with us every week. “We are delighted with the record-breaking patronage in May, with the continued dedication and pride of our brilliant employees, KeolisAmey Metrolink will continue to build on our commitment to providing a highly-performing network in partnership with TfGM that adds value to the communities of Greater Manchester.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
E-learning collaboration to boost staff’s decarbonisation knowledge… The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) is collaborating with Kier Transportation to deliver essential (digital) eLearning to support Kier achieve their decarbonisation goals. This collaboration involves Kier Transportation using CIHT’s specifically designed courses that relate to climate change learning. These courses are specifically tailored for the highways and transportation sector and provide CPD in subjects including decarbonisation and carbon literacy. These accredited CIHT e-learning courses explain why the global effort to mitigate the risk of dangerous climate change demands very significant changes to how transportation professionals plan, design, deliver, operate, maintain, and decommission transport systems. Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive, CIHT said: “The UK needs to cut transport emissions in half by 2030 – and then carry on towards 2050’s Net Zero. That isn’t something to start thinking about in 2049. Within the CIHT, we have engaged with members, partners (including Kier Transportation) and stakeholders, and through CIHT Learn, users can now dedicate a larger portion of their ongoing learning to sustainability.” “We welcome this important collaboration with Kier Transportation and the support we are now able to provide their staff as they join us on this decarbonisation journey.” “Through taking these courses, colleagues at Kier Transportation will learn how to identify gaps in their awareness, knowledge and skills and create a personal Continuing Professional Development plan tailored to their job role and its influence over transport decarbonisation.” Matt Tompsett, Head of Environment & Sustainability, Kier Transportation said: “Everyone’s talking about carbon and it’s continuing to raise higher on the agenda of organisations, up and down the value chain.” “We know that not everyone is an expert in carbon, but it’s important that we give our people the right tools and knowledge so they can make informed decisions and implement climate solutions in their sphere of influence, whether that be in their own lives – or at work.” “That’s why we decided to work with the CIHT to develop and roll our carbon literacy training for our people. It’s a big step in the right direction, to ensuring the right conversations are taking place so our people understand how they can influence and reduce our carbon footprint.” As of 8 May 2024, Kier Transportation employees have completed 1,476 courses. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mark Wild OBE has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd to lead the completion of the high-speed railway and help realise its transformational benefits. As one of the most respected figures in the infrastructure industry, Mark brings almost four decades-worth of experience to the role. This includes an outstanding record in the successful delivery of complex railway systems – the alignment of tracks, train, power, signalling and communications – most notably as the CEO of Crossrail. Mark will join HS2 Ltd at a pivotal moment in the programme’s delivery, with civil engineering works along the route from London to the West Midlands reaching their peak and focus shifting to building the infrastructure to operate the railway. This new appointment forms part of a series of reforms across the project aimed at bearing down on costs and safely delivering the scheme on time, in line with recent scope changes announced by the Government. Mark was selected following a rigorous recruitment process overseen by the HS2 Ltd board and led by Sir Jon Thompson, Executive Chair, with backing from Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport. Mark Harper said: “HS2 between Euston and the West Midlands will provide faster connections for millions of passengers, grow the economy, regenerate communities and create tens of thousands of high skilled jobs across the country. “Mark Wild brings a wealth of experience with him, including leading the successful delivery of Crossrail, and I have every confidence he will grip costs and robustly oversee this project to transform rail travel for generations.” Sir Jon Thompson said: “Mark joins HS2 Ltd with unrivalled experience and a track record of successful delivery, giving confidence that he will drive this hugely complex programme to completion – providing more reliable and faster services for rail users, while boosting the economies of the West Midlands and London. It is a mark of the scale and ambition of HS2 that we can attract a leader of his calibre.” Mark’s precise start date is yet to be confirmed. His arrival follows the departure of Mark Thurston who led HS2 Ltd for six-and-a-half years up to the end of September, 2023. Sir Jon will continue in his current position as Executive Chair until Mark’s arrival, when he resumes his previous role as HS2 Ltd Chair. Mark’s extensive experience includes key roles in the transport and utilities industries, most recently as CEO of SGN, the gas distribution network covering Scotland and the south east of England. He was previously CEO of Crossrail for almost four years, leading the project from a crucial juncture in its construction through to successful opening. The scale of Crossrail is eclipsed only by HS2 as the largest wholly new railway in the UK. Now known as the Elizabeth Line, Crossrail has been a staggering success since its launch, clocking up more than 300 million passenger journeys since opening in May 2022. Prior to Crossrail, Mark was Managing Director of the London Underground and was previously Chief Executive of Public Transport Victoria, the integrated transport authority based in Melbourne, Australia. Mark Wild OBE said: “I look forward to leading HS2 as it progresses from major construction works to its rail systems phase and beyond to the first passenger services. The scale and ambition of HS2 is phenomenal and will deliver wide-reaching benefits for the UK through more jobs, economic growth and better journeys.” Once complete, HS2 will provide significantly faster and more reliable journeys between London and the West Midlands, with trains running to destinations further north via existing lines. It will double rail capacity between Britain’s two biggest cities and provide relief to the most congested southern section of the West Coast Main Line – creating more space for local and freight services. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Liverpool City Region has unveiled images of the new £100 million Liverpool Baltic Station scheme, one of four planned stations. Recently re-elected Liverpool City Region, Mayor Steve Rotheram, has committed to completing the project by the end of 2027 which is a year ahead of its current schedule. Plans for Liverpool Baltic station include step-free access from street to train, passenger waiting facilities, fully accessible passenger toilets, secured monitored cycle parking and links to an enhanced local active travel network. The new station is part of Mayor Rotheram’s “Merseyrail for All” commitment to reach communities that are currently not connected to the local rail network by utilising the region’s new pioneering battery-powered technology, which has made it possible to extend the lines beyond current boundaries. Additionally, there is hope that the new stations will encourage more residents to opt for public transportation over cars, aligning with the Mayor’s ambitious goal to achieve net zero by 2035, the most ambitious target set for a city region in the nation. Mayor Rotheram has also pledged to build three new stations in Daresbury in Halton, Woodchurch on the Wirral and Carr Mill in St Helens, with work on all three set to begin by the end of the decade, ensuring that every borough in the city region will have a brand-new station since he took office in 2017. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Since I have been Mayor, I have worked around the clock to ensure our area has better connectivity so that people get to enjoy a reliable, accessible, affordable and integrated public transport network that helps, rather than hinders people getting around. “There are some unique challenges with the design of the site given that the station platform is subterranean. However, these plans for Liverpool Baltic further demonstrate our ambitions for the future of public transport in our area – a modern, fully accessible network with state-of-the-art infrastructure that unlocks opportunities for people and businesses. Liverpool Baltic is just the first in a pipeline of new stations we will be delivering over the next few years to ensure we are connecting local people to each other and to the opportunities we are creating.” Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Growth and Economy, said: “The new Liverpool Baltic station has huge potential to help drive the economic growth of this part of the city centre and will act as a vital service for the long-standing residential community. Its development will also complement the Council’s plans to improve the public realm in the area for both residents and visitors alike. The next few years should define the future of the Baltic Triangle for decades to come and these new images and the pending public consultation is an exciting chapter in this unfolding story.” Maisie Hogan, Network Rail sponsor, commented: “We are pleased to see the CGI images bring the exciting plans for Liverpool Baltic station to life. We welcome the investment in the rail network and we’re delighted to be working with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and other stakeholders to deliver the design of this project.” Information gathered from the consultation will be used to finalise the designs ahead of the planning application. Subject to approval, it is expected work will begin on site in 2025, with the station planned for opening by the end of 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading civil engineering and building contractor Farrans Construction has completed an innovative tunnelling operation on Northumbrian Water’s Project Pipeline: County Durham and Tees Valley as a specialist tunnel boring machine has completed an underground crossing of the River Tees. The 220m tunnel is part of Phase 1 of a new £155m water pipeline to be constructed while protecting the watercourse and the wildlife that relies upon it. Northumbrian Water’s Project Pipeline: County Durham and Tees Valley will see the construction of around 57km of new pipes connecting Lartington Water Treatment Works with around 200,000 customers across the south of the North East. The specialist tunnel boring machine arrived on site in April to begin its journey between two specially constructed shafts. This operation has created a pathway beneath the river, through which the new pipes will be installed. Phase 1 of the project will connect Lartington, in Upper Teesdale, with Whorley Hill and Shildon, County Durham, and will be followed by a second phase extending the pipeline from Whorley Hill to Long Newton, connecting to the existing network that serves large parts of Teesside. In recent months, work has been carried out by main contractors Farrans and subcontractors Joseph Gallagher, to create the two shafts, one on either side of the river. The western shaft is 8.0 metres in diameter and 32 metres deep, while the eastern shaft is 7.5 metres in diameter and 46 metres deep, the difference being due to the rising topography on the east bank. Dave Mellor, Contracts Director for Farrans, said: “This highly technical and challenging operation has been a best-practice example of innovative civil engineering and we are delighted to have completed it successfully and on schedule. I would like to thank our team, our specialist contractors Joseph Gallagher and our client for collaboratively achieving this important milestone in a project which will secure the water supply to this region for years to come. The moment of break through into the west shaft was a cause for celebration on site following weeks of slow, incremental progress to create the tunnel.” James Dawes, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager said: “This project has been years in the planning, and ensuring that key strategic crossings, such as the River Tees, are done in the best way possible for the local environment and communities, has been vital. “While it would have been possible to cross the Tees using a pipe-bridge, we had to consider such factors as how this would impact the stunning Teesdale landscape that will be here long after our team have completed the project and moved on. “The use of no dig techniques, tunnelling or directional drilling, is becoming increasingly common in our projects, to reduce the impact on our region’s road and rail networks by reducing the need to dig long trenches. However, this is the first time we have employed it to cross a large river and the teams at Farrans and Joseph Gallagher Limited have done a great job to make this possible. Project Pipeline: County Durham and Tees Valley is a huge investment in the resilience and quality of water supplies to around 200,000 customers, and there is a lot of work to be done, but this is an exciting and important milestone as we progress this strategically important project towards completion.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
