First of two 2,000 tonne TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines) starts 5-mile journey towards Greenford from West Ruislip in West London First machine named ‘Sushila’, after pupils nominated local teacher Sushila Hirani. Second machine named after ‘first professional’ female astronomer Caroline Herschel. HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston: “The launch of the
East Midlands-based design and building contractor, Grace Construction, is set to commence work on the transformation of the iconic Derbyshire building, Victoria Ironworks. The former foundry, which currently serves as the Rolls Royce Heritage Centre, will be converted into as classic vehicle restoration workshop and showroom, becoming the new home
Night-time operation in Warwickshire takes the giant ‘Dorothy’ Tunnel Boring Machine’s cutterhead back to Long Itchington Wood Tunnel north portal Impressive sight as the 160 tonne cutterhead was moved upright on a 12 metre-long, 48-wheel Self Propelled Trailer (SPT) on its 2.5 mile journey Once reassembled, ‘Dorothy’ will start her
Chalk excavated from the Chiltern tunnels being used to landscape the site which is set to become a 127 hectare wildlife haven featuring new chalk grassland, woodland, wood pasture and wetland habitats. The transformation of HS2’s largest construction site into a haven for wildlife reached a major milestone this week
The UK Government has announced it will allocate £161 million to renovate Oxford station. Out of that, the Department for Transport has awarded £78.6 million to Network Rail to participate in the redevelopment of Oxford station and railway. The funding follows the granting of a Transport Works Act Order (TWAO)
As the tunnelling machines under the Chilterns approach the four-mile mark, HS2 completes the first of thirty-eight underground connections between the northbound and southbound tunnels The construction of HS2’s longest tunnels stretching for 10 miles under the Chilterns has begun a new phase with the start of work on thirty-eight
Electric vans are increasing in popularity, but should you buy one for your business? Dan Powell from Desperate Seller reveals the top five things every electrician needs to check before going electric. With the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel vans looming large over the horizon, you may be wondering
Buckinghamshire Council has announced Balfour Beatty as the the winner of its £176 million highways maintenance contract. The two will work closely together to provide a safe and resilient local road network, maintaining over 5,000 kilometres of highways, carriageways, footpaths, and cycle routes. With the possibility of extension for a
Balfour Beatty Living Places today announces that it has been awarded an eight-year, £176 million contract by Buckinghamshire Council for the maintenance of highways assets across the county. There is an option to extend the contract for a further four years. Balfour Beatty Living Places will work closely and collaboratively
New video shows extensive tunnelling work that will help relocate equipment and provide ventilation for the Northern line: HS2 Ltd continues to make progress at Euston, as work continues behind the hoardings to make way for Britain’s new high-speed railway. To create space for the new HS2 station, HS2’s station
First of two 2,000 tonne TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines) starts 5-mile journey towards Greenford from West Ruislip in West London First machine named ‘Sushila’, after pupils nominated local teacher Sushila Hirani. Second machine named after ‘first professional’ female astronomer Caroline Herschel. HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston: “The launch of the TBMs on the largest section of tunnels through London is a major moment for HS2, and one that demonstrates the brilliant momentum that has built behind Britain’s flagship levelling-up project.” Broadcast quality B-Roll of the switch on available here: Northolt Tunnel TBM launched (6 October 2022) Broadcast quality drone footage of the event available here: Northolt Tunnel TBMs launched (drone) HS2 Ltd yesterday celebrated the start of the next phase of tunnelling on the enormous infrastructure project, launching the first of six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will dig over 26 miles of tunnels under the capital. HS2 Ltd’s CEO, Mark Thurston was joined by local teacher, Sushila Hirani, after whom one of the tunnel boring machines at the West London site is named, as it begins on its five mile journey. “Sushila” is the fourth of 10 HS2 tunnel boring machines to be launched. The milestone highlights the progress being made on building Britain’s new high speed rail network, creating jobs and providing contracts for businesses now. Later this year a second TBM, named after 18th century astronomer Caroline Herschel, will also be launched from the West London site to build the second of HS2’s twin-bore tunnels towards central London. Speaking about the launch, the HS2 Minister, Kevin Foster MP, said: “This launch is a landmark moment in the delivery of HS2, helping link London to Birmingham and unlock better connections, quicker journeys and create thousands of skilled jobs across the North and Midlands. “Already well underway, HS2 is set to revolutionise journeys for communities throughout the country, boost local economies and, at its peak, support more than 34,000 jobs across the UK.” Each weighing over 2,000 tonnes and measuring 140 metres in length, both TBMs will bore five miles non-stop for 22 months, except Christmas Day and bank holidays, to Greenpark Way in Greenford, where they will be dismantled and lifted from the ground. Separately, two other equally massive tunnel boring machines will set off towards Greenpark Way from HS2’s Victoria Road site in 2023 to build a further 3.4mile twin-bore tunnel. Together the quartet of TBMs will build 8.4miles of twin bored tunnels between West Ruislip and the new high speed rail super hub station at Old Oak Common. Another 4.5 mile twin-bore tunnel extending from Old Oak Common to Euston will complete HS2’s journey to its London terminus. Each TBM is operated by 15 people, working in shifts. A team of around 40 people assembled the TBMs, with 56 companies involved in getting the site ready and machines launched. In total the 10 TBMs will create 64 miles of tunnels on HS2 between London and the West Midlands. Launching the TBM, HS2 CEO Mark Thurston said: “The launch of the Tunnel Boring Machines on the longest section of tunnels through London is a significant moment for HS2, and one that demonstrates the momentum that has built behind Britain’s flagship levelling-up project. “The construction of 170 miles of new high speed railway between London and Crewe is now in full swing, supporting 27,000 jobs, nearly 1,000 apprenticeships and contracts for over 2,500 businesses.” Local school children from Dairy Meadow Primary School in Southall and Brentside Primary Academy helped name the TBMs after participating in workshops about the tunnelling work. The TBM launched today is called Sushila after local schoolteacher Sushila Hirani, Head of Department and Lead for STEM at Greenford High School. The Willow class at Dairy Meadow Primary School in Southall suggested the name due to her inspiring work and passion for getting more women and young people from BAME backgrounds into STEM subjects. With a background in product design, Sushila has been a teacher for nearly 30 years. Her involvement in local infrastructure and development projects, including the Waterside housing development in Southall, and drive to attract girls into STEM subjects as a path towards Engineering at A Level, apprenticeships, and degrees, has inspired many in the local area. Speaking about having HS2’s first London tunnel boring machine named after her, Sushila said: “I was very surprised that the Willow class pupils at Dairy Meadow chose to put my name forward for this honour. When I met the pupils, I was very impressed by how much work they had already engaged in relating to design and technology and STEM, led by their teacher Prabhjot Uppal, who is the design technology lead at the school. I have always had a passion for industrial design and engineering, and if this event helps young people connect with engineering and inspire them to pursue this path, then my small contribution here has been worthwhile.” The second TBM to be launched has been named Caroline after the German-born British astronomer Caroline Herschel. Considered the first professional female astronomer, discovering three new nebulae (hazy clouds where stars form) in 1783, Herschel went on to be first woman to ever discover a comet in 1786. She made significant contributions to the work of her astronomer brother Sir William, executing many of the calculations connected with his studies. She compiled a catalogue of 2500 nebulae and, in 1828, the Royal Astronomical Society awarded her its gold medal for this work. Her name was put forward for the TBM by pupils at Brentside Primary Academy in Ealing, who were inspired by her contribution to astronomy whilst learning about earth and space in their science lessons. Sushila and Caroline will be operated by Skanska Costain STRABAG JV (SCS JV). The machines are manufactured by worldwide TBM specialist Herrenknecht in Germany. Further facts about the TBMS: Each machine is 140 metres in length, one and a quarter times the length of a football pitch Each has a cutter head that is 9.84m in diameter, slightly smaller than the machines boring through
East Midlands-based design and building contractor, Grace Construction, is set to commence work on the transformation of the iconic Derbyshire building, Victoria Ironworks. The former foundry, which currently serves as the Rolls Royce Heritage Centre, will be converted into as classic vehicle restoration workshop and showroom, becoming the new home of heritage vehicle initiative, Great Northern Classics. Led by Grace Construction, the extensive renovation project has begun following years of planning and design. With a dedicated team of 40 contractors on site, it is expected to take approximately one year to complete. The vast site encompasses four conjoined factory buildings, which will enable Great Northern Classics to house a fully equipped training school, workshops, a vehicle storage area, exhibition and entertainment space. As part of the plans for the project, Grace Constructions will install a full glass frontage leading to a feature staircase and mezzanine floor. As well as restoring the building’s existing character features. Stuart Bennett, owner of Grace Constructions, commented: “It’s a real honour and privilege to be leading this important conservation project. The site holds so much history and heritage to Derby and indeed to the whole country, having witnessed and contributed to some of the most significant industrial developments throughout the twentieth century. “When working on the designs and plans, the real challenge was to balance preserving the building’s rich past and full character, while adding new elements to enable the building to become a fully functional and secure. “We hope that the project will enable future generations of vehicle enthusiasts to fulfil their passion and hone their skills, as well as creating a destination for Derbyshire and adding to the legacy of this iconic building. We’re looking forward to getting construction work and the next chapter of Victoria Ironworks underway,” he added. Shaun Matthews, the Driving Force behind Great Northern Classics, added: “Stuart and I have been working closely on this project since our first meeting in 2018, whilst many things have changed since then our shared passion for classic vehicles and delivering something spectacular for Derby has remained constant.” “Now we have the ownership of the site and its rich history we are very excited to begin the job of converting it into Great Northern Classics, a truly unique project and opportunity for the East Midlands.” The transformation of Victoria Ironworks is one of the latest high-profile projects undertaken by Grace Construction, having previously completed construction of Derby’s Kings Crescent residential development, Nottingham-based Whyburn Business Park and We Are Padel Derby, to name but a few. For more information about Grace Construction, visit https://graceconstruction.co.uk/ Find out more about Great Northern Classics at https://www.greatnorthernclassics.co.uk/
Night-time operation in Warwickshire takes the giant ‘Dorothy’ Tunnel Boring Machine’s cutterhead back to Long Itchington Wood Tunnel north portal Impressive sight as the 160 tonne cutterhead was moved upright on a 12 metre-long, 48-wheel Self Propelled Trailer (SPT) on its 2.5 mile journey Once reassembled, ‘Dorothy’ will start her second tunnel bore later this year Dramatic photos and video capture the night-time transportation of HS2’s Long Itchington Wood Tunnel TBM’s giant cutterhead back to the tunnel’s north portal site in Warwickshire. After HS2’s first tunnel breakthrough by Tunnel Boring Machine ‘Dorothy’ at the south portal site in July this year, the front part of the TBM has been dismantled and transported back to the tunnel’s north portal in a 24/7 intricate operation, managed by the plant and logistics team at HS2’s contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV). The cutterhead, weighing 160 tonnes and with a 10-metre diameter, was moved during the night of Wednesday 21 September. Standing upright on a 12 metre-long, 48-wheel Self Propelled Trailer (SPT), it was transported from the south portal site, along the A425, through the village of Ufton and onto HS2’s north portal site. The TBM’s 120 tonne tail skin, also 10 metres in diameter, was also moved in the same operation. The 2.5-mile journey took 180 minutes, with the loads arriving at their destination at 03.00 hours on Thursday 22 September. Eight other large pieces from the TBM’s front shield and middle shield, have already been transported by specialist equipment, which was used specifically to avoid any temporary alterations to the road layout through Ufton. The rest of the 120-metre long TBM will be pulled back through the one-mile tunnel by a special ‘caterpillar’ system, at a pace of 150 metres per day. Once all the parts are back at the north portal, the TBM will be reassembled before starting the second bore later this year. Tom Comer, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Logistics Manager said: “This has been an intricately planned operation, using specialist equipment to transport these large, heavy pieces of machinery safely and carefully, over a 2.5-mile route, and onto our north portal site. The whole team was proud to see the operation culminate in such an impressive sight, as the huge TBM cutterhead completed its short journey. “We worked closely with the local authority, Warwickshire Police and British Transport Police, and would like to thank them for helping us ensure a safe operation, carried out at night to minimise disruption to the local community as much as possible.” Alan Payne, HS2’s Senior Project Manager said: “The BBV logistics and site teams have done a great job to make this a safe and successful operation. We’re now looking forward to the reassembly of the TBM over the coming weeks, and the start of the second bore of the tunnel later this year. When we celebrate the breakthrough next summer, this will be the first fully completed twin bore tunnel on the HS2 project.”
Chalk excavated from the Chiltern tunnels being used to landscape the site which is set to become a 127 hectare wildlife haven featuring new chalk grassland, woodland, wood pasture and wetland habitats. The transformation of HS2’s largest construction site into a haven for wildlife reached a major milestone this week with the millionth cubic metre of chalk laid out around the south portal of the Chiltern tunnel. The ambitious environmental project will eventually see 2.6 million cubic metres of chalk excavated during the construction of the 10 mile long tunnels used to create one of the largest areas of chalk grassland in the Chiltern hills. Instead of removing the material by road, it is being used to landscape the site as part of plans to create 127 hectares of new chalk grassland, woodland, wood pasture and wetland habitats. Welcoming the news, HS2 Ltd’s Environment Director Peter Miller said: “The south portal project is one of the most important parts of our Green Corridor programme to establish better connected, sustainable and biodiverse landscapes along the route of the new railway and will contribute substantially to HS2’s carbon reduction target. “It’s great to see how much chalk has already been laid on site and I look forward to seeing the site completely transform over the coming years.” Chalk grassland – a type of calcareous grassland – is habitat of international conservation importance mainly found on limestone and chalk downlands of south-east England and the Isle of Wight. Lime-rich, but low in nutrients, the thin soil holds little water and drains well. These conditions encourage a huge variety of smaller herbs and wildflowers and over 40 plant species can be found in one square metre of grassland, including some of the UK’s rarest orchids as well as highly diverse invertebrate populations. Only 700 hectares of chalk grassland exist across the whole of the Chilterns AONB. The plans have been developed by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – working with its design partners Jacobs, Rendel-Ingerop, and LDA Design, that form Align D. Chris Chantler, Align D, Design Director “This innovative, multi-discipline project is providing a unique opportunity to create a huge expanse of new grassland using chalk being excavated from the Chiltern tunnels. With the first million cubic metres of chalk having already been placed to create the grassland, we are well on the way to creating a landscape which will be both rich in diversity and a place for people to explore and connect with the natural environment.” Two giant tunnelling machines – named Florence and Cecilia – are currently around 4 miles into their journey under the Chilterns. The material they excavate is mixed with water to form a slurry before being pumped out of the tunnel. It is then processed at a slurry treatment plant at the south portal site where the flint is removed and water extracted, to leave chalk cake which is then carefully laid out on site – together with recycled concrete and aggregates from construction works – in order to create a naturalistic landscape with all the temporary construction buildings removed. Ninety hectares of chalk grassland will be seeded into re-profiled soil layers. This will sit alongside new areas of woodland, wood pasture and wetlands, including almost 65,000 trees and shrubs of 32 species and nearly 3.5km of new hedgerows. Around 4.5km of new footpath, cycling and horse-riding routes will give the public areas to large parts of the site, which sits between the Colne Valley Regional Park and the Chilterns AONB. Field trials are in preparation ahead of final seeding, and planting of trees and shrubs in 2025.
The UK Government has announced it will allocate £161 million to renovate Oxford station. Out of that, the Department for Transport has awarded £78.6 million to Network Rail to participate in the redevelopment of Oxford station and railway. The funding follows the granting of a Transport Works Act Order (TWAO) and will enable Network Rail to significantly transform Oxford station, the railway in Oxfordshire and nearby road network, boosting the number of passengers the station can serve, accommodating new services including freight and improving the accessibility of the station. “We are delighted to have been awarded this significant amount of funding from the Department for Transport, which will enable us make positive substantial improvements to Oxford station and railway for the benefit of our passengers and freight customers,” said Mike Gallop, Network Rail’s Western Route and Strategic Operations Director. The redevelopment plan includes the introduction of a new track and platform to be added alongside the existing platform 4, creating an island platform on the west side of the station. A new western station entrance will also be built next to Botley Road and will link up to the new platform via a subway, stairs and lift. The new entrance will make the station more accessible to people living to the west of the station, reducing walking time. Moreover, there will also be improvements to the nearby road network and replacement of Botley Road bridge, including the lowering of the road to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time. The new bridge design will include a four-metre-wide cycle/footpath on each side to encourage sustainable transport and improve safety. “This £161 million will truly transform the region, increasing the number of services for passengers, boosting economic growth by connecting people to new opportunities and increasing freight services between the South and Midlands,” added UK Rail Minister Wendy Morton. The latest funding announcement follows £69 million of investment from the government last May to support the development of the design and enabling work. The Oxford Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) are also contributing an additional £10.5 million towards the project. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
As the tunnelling machines under the Chilterns approach the four-mile mark, HS2 completes the first of thirty-eight underground connections between the northbound and southbound tunnels The construction of HS2’s longest tunnels stretching for 10 miles under the Chilterns has begun a new phase with the start of work on thirty-eight cross passages linking the northbound and southbound tunnels. The Chiltern tunnels will carry high speed trains between London and the North at speeds of up to 200mph (320km/h). The trains will travel through two parallel tunnels linked by short passages for use in emergencies. With the two giant tunnelling machines – named Florence and Cecilia – now almost four miles into their journeys, attention has turned to the first cross passages. An expert team of miners used a remotely controlled excavator to break out of and excavate from one running tunnel to the adjacent tunnel. As the excavation is progressed the ground is supported using a sprayed concrete lining (SCL). Delivered by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – each passage is between 15 and 20 metres in length. Once the team had completed the SCL lined tunnel, a water-proof membrane was installed followed by a secondary concrete lining constructed by placing concrete behind formwork installed in the cross passage. Martyn Noak, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Tunnel Engineering, said: “HS2 is making huge progress, with 25,000 jobs supported by the project, construction in full swing between London and Birmingham and now the start of this new phase of tunnelling work under the Chilterns. “While invisible to the travelling public, the cross passages have a key role in providing a safe operational railway. In an emergency they allow the safe evacuation of passengers into a place of relative safety – the other tunnel. Constructing cross passages is different than using a tunnelling machine as the ground is excavated in short lengths with each advance being left unsupported for a short period of time until the sprayed concrete lining is installed. It is a different set of risks and a specific skilled workforce is needed. “It’s great to see the first one complete and I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in this important milestone, one down 37 to go.” Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said, “The completion of this cross passage is a significant milestone for the team at Align JV, delivering the first mined cross passage on HS2 phase 1. I’m proud of the team, their hard work and collaboration to get us to this point. “In partnership with our supply chain; KVJV responsible for the ground treatment, specialist contractor Euro Diamond Drilling and waterproofing specialist Rennesco, the sub-surface team at Align have already commenced preparation work on several other cross passages and are making good progress.” Once the passageway is complete, the safety doors can be installed at either end. These are being manufactured by Bolton-based Booth Industries who won the contract to provide more than 300 units for all the tunnels between London and Birmingham. The win allowed Booth Industries to establish a new facility in the town and create up to 50 jobs over the next 10 years. The sliding doors have been subjected to rigorous fire and fatigue testing to take account of the train speeds, associated pressures and frequency of the trains. Each running tunnel has an emergency walkway that allows passengers to safely evacuate the train and walk through the cross passages into the other tunnel where they can be rescued on a passenger train. Access for emergency services is from either the portal or one of the five ventilation/emergency access shafts.
Electric vans are increasing in popularity, but should you buy one for your business? Dan Powell from Desperate Seller reveals the top five things every electrician needs to check before going electric. With the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel vans looming large over the horizon, you may be wondering if now is the right time to make the switch to electric. Electric vans are more expensive to buy than their diesel counterparts but they offer significant long-term savings when it comes to fuel, tax, and maintenance costs. Electric vans are easier to drive and more refined than their diesel rivals too, which means they tend to be more comfortable over a long journey. The latest crop of electric cargo carriers from Ford, Vauxhall and Peugeot will also deliver heavy-duty load carrying capacity that will easily match the latest diesel panel vans. However, before you ditch your diesel, there are some important things you should be aware of. Dan Powell, editor at the online van marketplace Desperate Seller, reveals the top five things you need to know before joining the electric revolution. Work out your mileage How many miles do you drive a week? Does your daily commute involve long motorway trips or are you a local electrican who covers lots of short journeys? Before you set foot in a van showroom, you’ll need to work out what your daily and weekly mileage is (then add 20% to cover those unexpected site visits and trips to the local wholesaler). Once you have an idea of your mileage, you can start shortlisting vans. The Ford E-Transit will cover between 166 and 196 miles on a full charge, while the Vauxhall Vivaro-E is advertised with a maximum range of 205 miles. It’s important to note the real world range may be slightly lower than the advised figure as things like air conditioning and heating will require power from the van’s EV battery. Do the maths An electric van could save your business thousands every year. Charging the 75kWh version of the Vivaro-E will cost around 28p/kwh and give you around 200 miles of range. A diesel van that returns 47mpg will cost at least £37 to fill (at 191p-per-litre) and you could save even more if you charge your van at home on an overnight tariff. Electric vans are more expensive to buy than their diesel rivals, however. The Vivaro-E, for example, is around £5000 dearer than the standard diesel model. But road tax is free and electric vans also have fewer moving parts than diesel vehicles, which means maintenance and servicing costs tend to be lower. Many supermarkets and public car parks will also let you charge your van for free while electric vans are exempt from clean air zone charges, like the London ULEZ. Take charge Obviously, if you buy an electric van then you’ll need somewhere to charge it. And a home charger is the cheapest and most convenient way for your business to operate an electric van. Charging your van via a three-pint plug will take all day, so invest in a home wallbox if you have a driveway as this will cut the charging time to six or seven hours. There are more than 33,000 public EV charging points in the UK. And more are being added to this figure every day. Some public charging stations are free to use. Rapid charging is the most expensive way to charge your van but is useful if you get caught short, boosting your battery from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes. Check your weight Electric vans tend to have lower towing capacities than their diesel counterparts. The Vivaro-E, for example, will tow a braked trailer up to 1,000kg – so always check the spec if you need your electric vehicle to tow tools or equipment. Payload capacity and loadspace is generally the same as diesel and petrol vans. In 2018, the Government changed licensing laws to make it easier for people to drive electric vans. This means you can operate an electric van weighing up to 4,250kg with a standard driving licence (instead of the 3,500kg you’d normally be limited to with a petrol or diesel vehicle). Take a test drive Have you ever driven an electric van before? If you haven’t, you’ll probably find the experience a little strange at first because electric vans are silent and don’t have a manual gearbox. Electric vans also use regenerative braking, which recovers energy to top up the battery when you slow down. This means the van will lose speed when you lift your foot off of the accelerator much quicker than a standard diesel vehicle. As a result, we’d recommend taking an electric van for a lengthy test drive so you can see if it is something you feel comfortable with.
Buckinghamshire Council has announced Balfour Beatty as the the winner of its £176 million highways maintenance contract. The two will work closely together to provide a safe and resilient local road network, maintaining over 5,000 kilometres of highways, carriageways, footpaths, and cycle routes. With the possibility of extension for a further four years, the contract will see Balfour Beatty responsible for the delivery of winter maintenance services for the local community and travelling public, as well as the operation and maintenance of the county’s street lighting and key community assets including gullies and traffic signals. Steve Helliwell, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty, says that the announcements “builds on our longstanding expertise and commitment to providing best-in-class highways maintenance services, whilst offering customer-focused solutions in a collaborative partnership.” “Wherever we operate, we go above and beyond for our customers with an unrelenting focus on leaving a lasting positive legacy for the communities we serve; working with local supply chain partners whilst also creating numerous apprenticeship and graduate opportunities,” Steve adds. In order to reduce carbon emissions and waste during the project, Balfour Beatty will come up with innovative solutions and materials. These solutions include ideas such as using reused rubber asphalt when laying new road surfaces and installing electric charging points at its depots to facilitate its electric vehicle fleet, in line with Balfour Beatty’s sustainability strategy, ‘Building New Futures’. “We are pleased that, after a rigorous selection process, Balfour Beatty Living Places will be working with Buckinghamshire Council to provide a new model of highways services that meets our aspirations for a faster and more responsive service to best meet the needs of residents and road users. With their impressive track record of managing contracts of this nature, we are keen to embrace their expertise and experience, whilst realising their delivery of innovation and quality onto our network,” comments Councillor Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport. Moreover, Balfour Beatty will establish an Operational Efficiency Hub, which is a data-driven Hub to monitor all activities in real-time, track progress of works and capture data to drive further efficiencies across the network. This will ensure the continuous effective maintenance of highways assets across the county. Balfour Beatty Living Places will also dedicate 50% of its spend to local businesses, and as part of its commitment to The 5% Club, will ensure a minimum of 5% of its workforce comprises of graduates, apprentices and trainees. “We know how important the condition of our roads and footpaths is for local residents and this new contract will allow us to map out a detailed strategic plan for the future. We are focused on channelling our resources into making lasting improvements, whilst at the same time standing by our commitment to cut our carbon emissions and take the lead in adopting new and innovative techniques that achieve value for money,” concludes the Councillor. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Balfour Beatty Living Places today announces that it has been awarded an eight-year, £176 million contract by Buckinghamshire Council for the maintenance of highways assets across the county. There is an option to extend the contract for a further four years. Balfour Beatty Living Places will work closely and collaboratively alongside the Council to provide a safe and resilient local road network, maintaining over 5,000 kilometres of highways, carriageways, footpaths, and cycle routes. In addition, Balfour Beatty Living Places will also be responsible for delivering winter maintenance services for the local community and travelling public, as well as the operation and maintenance of the county’s street lighting and key community assets including gullies and traffic signals. The company will harness innovative solutions and materials such as reused rubber asphalt when laying new road surfaces to drive down carbon emissions and reduce waste, as well as installing electric charging points at its depots to facilitate its electric vehicle fleet, in line with Balfour Beatty’s sustainability strategy, “Building New Futures.” To ensure the continuous effective maintenance of highways assets across the county, Balfour Beatty Living Places will also establish an ‘Operational Efficiency Hub’ – a data-driven Hub to monitor all activities in real-time, track progress of works and capture data to drive further efficiencies across the network. Balfour Beatty Living Places will also dedicate 50% of its spend to local businesses, and as part of its commitment to The 5% Club, will ensure a minimum of 5% of its workforce comprises of graduates, apprentices and trainees. Steve Helliwell, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Living Places, said: “Today’s announcement builds on our longstanding expertise and commitment to providing best-in-class highways maintenance services, whilst offering customer-focused solutions in a collaborative partnership. “Wherever we operate, we go above and beyond for our customers with an unrelenting focus on leaving a lasting positive legacy for the communities we serve; working with local supply chain partners whilst also creating numerous apprenticeship and graduate opportunities.” Councillor Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport said: “We are pleased that, after a rigorous selection process, Balfour Beatty Living Places will be working with Buckinghamshire Council to provide a new model of highways services that meets our aspirations for a faster and more responsive service to best meet the needs of residents and road users. With their impressive track record of managing contracts of this nature, we are keen to embrace their expertise and experience, whilst realising their delivery of innovation and quality onto our network. “We know how important the condition of our roads and footpaths is for local residents and this new contract will allow us to map out a detailed strategic plan for the future. We are focused on channelling our resources into making lasting improvements, whilst at the same time standing by our commitment to cut our carbon emissions and take the lead in adopting new and innovative techniques that achieve value for money.” The contract commences on 1st April 2023.
New video shows extensive tunnelling work that will help relocate equipment and provide ventilation for the Northern line: HS2 Ltd continues to make progress at Euston, as work continues behind the hoardings to make way for Britain’s new high-speed railway. To create space for the new HS2 station, HS2’s station contractor, Mace Dragados JV (MDjv), has excavated a 20-metre deep ‘box’ that will be home to a new Traction Substation (TSS). Traction substations are used to convert electrical power to a form suitable for a rail system. This TSS will enable the relocation of equipment needed to provide services and ventilation for the safe operation of the Northern Line at Euston. Connecting this highly-secure new Traction Substation – dubbed the ‘sugar cube’ due to its eye-catching white tiled exterior – to the London Underground network is a 90-metre long – as long as the Statue of Liberty laid down – 6.5-metre wide tunnel running under the HS2 construction site. The work to construct the tunnel took 16 months and saw the MDJV team sink a 20-metre deep shaft before carving out the underground passage and coating it with a primary sprayed concrete lining (SCL). After applying waterproofing, the team reinforced the tunnel with steel and concrete to give it the strength and structure needed ahead of the construction of the HS2 Station that will be taking place above it. MDjv, supported by its principal sub-contractors Cementation Skanska, Careys and JGL, brought forward innovations to improve the environmental credentials of the works. Redesigning the tunnel to lower the carbon impact during construction – through reduced material and water use, a reduction in vehicle movements, and a lower energy consumption – resulted in an overall carbon saving of 140 tonnes, while efforts to reuse material already on site resulted in over 1,000 fewer lorry movements and an associated saving of 76 tonnes carbon dioxide from vehicle emissions. Andy Swift, Euston Project Client for HS2 Ltd said: “Our Euston team has been working hard behind the hoardings at Euston to create the space required for us to build HS2’s new Euston station, as well as a better connected London Underground station. The progress to date has been great, moving the existing underground infrastructure, with seamless collaboration between contractors and stakeholders, with a focus on minimising community disruption.” Throughout the tunnelling works, the shaft has been enclosed by an acoustic shed, designed to reduce noise impact on the community and businesses nearby. This enabled 24 hour working which was required to meet the demands of the programme. Rob Williams, Senior Project Manager for the Traction Substation at Mace Dragados joint venture said: “The progress we’ve made at the Traction Substation has been the by-product of fantastic collaborative working between HS2, Mace Dragados, our supply chain partners and critical external stakeholders, including TfL. Our one-team approach has allowed us to build a culture and leverage the expertise needed to deliver this complex and highly constrained project, which is essential for the construction of the new HS2 station at Euston.” Lorena Naylor, Lead Sponsor at Transport for London, said: “Our team has been working closely with HS2 on the relocation of our traction substation to make space for the new HS2 station at Euston. We are also working with HS2 to ensure the heritage features from the original building, including the oxblood tiles from 1907, are salvaged and re-used at other stations such as Oxford Circus. Alongside the new traction substation here, HS2 will deliver a capacity upgrade to Euston underground station ticket hall as well as a new bus station.” With the tunnelling and excavation works at the site now complete, the team will be working to construct the below and above ground structures for the new Traction Substation, before fitting it out with the necessary equipment and connecting it to the Northern line. The building will have three storeys below ground and four above. Once the new structure is complete, the existing TSS on Melton Street will be demolished. The building, opened in 1907, was once an entrance and exit to what Londoner’s now know as the Northern line, and was designed by the Architect Leslie Green. In 1914 changes to the Underground at Euston meant that the building was no longer used as a ticket office and entrance but was used to house ventilation equipment for the underground. HS2 will be carefully removing some of the iconic historic features and tiles donating these for reuse and heritage displays.
