HS2 has set up a rebar threading facility to address materials shortages at its Copthall tunnel construction site in Hillingdon – creating jobs, cutting waste and reducing lorry movements. The new facility will make 92,000 rebar couplers, needed to construct the Copthall tunnel. The Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS
Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has delivered a new multi-million-pound footbridge in Peterborough, ensuring that members of the public can continue to cross the A47 easily and safely. GRAHAM was appointed by National Highways, which needed to replace Longthorpe’s old bridge as it approached the end of its life. Now operational,
HS2 yesterday confirmed that ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ – the two giant tunnelling machines digging HS2’s longest tunnels – have passed Amersham, 5-and-a-half miles into their 10 mile drive under the Chilterns. The enormous 2,000 tonne machines have spent almost two years excavating the twin tunnels between the M25 and South
Atkins, a member of the SNC Lavalin Group, has been appointed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to deliver the detailed design for the Advance Works programme for the MetroLink Project, a high capacity, high-frequency metro railway and integrated public transport network connecting the Greater Dublin Area, including Dublin Airport and city
New entrance will provide direct access to the M8 and Glasgow Airport Construction has started on a brand new state-of-the-art gatehouse and HGV-grade access road at Westway, Glasgow Airport. The £1.5m investment will boost connectivity by providing quick and direct access from Westway to Junction 28 of the M8, via
HS2 yesterday confirmed that traditional Warwickshire ‘ironstone’ will be used to clad the piers supporting the high speed railway’s new Oxford Canal Viaduct as a nod to the canal’s architectural heritage after engaging with the local community. Set low in the landscape, three concrete spans will carry the railway 62.5m
Mace has been appointed to several major projects for Associated British Ports (ABP). It has been appointed through ABP’s Group Professional Services Framework and will provide a range of services, including project management, cost and commercial advisory, project support and site supervision. The consultancy arm of the business has won
HS2’s plans for the Balsall Common Viaduct in Warwickshire, recently submitted to Solihull Council, incorporate local feedback focussing on environmental sustainability, landscape integration, visual connectivity and public access. HS2’s main works contractor, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), supported by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra together with architects
HS2 has revealed images of a big construction milestone in Birmingham city centre, with the completion of the first giant V-shaped pier for the 300 metres long viaduct that will bring high speed trains into the new Curzon Street Station. The five-metre-tall structure is the first pier to be installed
The last of 292 concrete piles that will form the foundations for the UK’s longest railway bridge were installed this week at the site of HS2’s Colne Valley Viaduct, marking a successful end to the first phase of the record-breaking project. Once complete, the 2.1 miles (3.4km) bridge will carry
HS2 has set up a rebar threading facility to address materials shortages at its Copthall tunnel construction site in Hillingdon – creating jobs, cutting waste and reducing lorry movements. The new facility will make 92,000 rebar couplers, needed to construct the Copthall tunnel. The Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV) team constructing the tunnel were faced with delays due to a shortfall of available prefabricated fatigue rated rebar couplers, after suppliers had exited the market. To address this, the team has constructed a threading facility on site to produce the required quantities of the materials themselves. As well as addressing supply shortfall, the threading facility has resulted in a significant financial saving on the project by reducing waste, costs and lorry movements, and overall creating a more efficient way of working. To construct the 880 metre long cut and cover Copthall tunnel, 92,000 fatigue rated couplers are required. A team of 14 will work at the facility six days a week, 8 hours a day for three years to meet the supply needs for the tunnel. The process to get the facility up and running took 20 weeks in total, with the team gaining CARES certification (assured certification for the constructional steels industry) for the work and securing the required equipment from Sheffield based company, Leviat. It is only the second time CARES certification has been given for this activity to happen onsite. The team purchase stock rebar and then complete processing operations on site, before taking it through the four-step threading process and delivering it to the Copthall tunnel construction area. All the work is taking place within the site boundary reducing unnecessary lorry movements, supporting HS2 Net Zero Carbon targets. The solution was devised by Ray Moloney, Senior Project Manager for SCS JV, who explains his approach: “Uncertainties in the market and the need to meet the requirements of the HS2 construction programme meant that we had to look at an innovative solution for supplying fatigue rated mechanical reinforcement connections. In mid-2022 we started engaging with partners including Leviat and CARES to develop an on-site processing scheme and within 20 weeks, we were processing our first order. “The solution has created new jobs, offered new training opportunities for engineers and means that we can remove the risk of any delays in construction due to supply shortages.” HS2’s Project Client, Malcolm Codling, said: “We are always looking at ways in which we can improve construction efficiency and are pleased to support our construction partners in developing solutions like this and getting them off the ground. Ray and the team have developed an approach that means we can stay on track, save money, and can be replicated elsewhere.” The model offers a new blueprint for how the manufacturing of materials can be done on site and can offer significant benefits to other construction projects. As well as supplying the Copthall tunnel works, the facility has also been able to provide fatigue rated couplers to other HS2 works being delivered by SCS JV to support overall delivery and de-risk supply chain delays. The team are now looking at how they can improve productivity in the manufacturing process to create additional capacity to support other supply requirements across HS2. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has delivered a new multi-million-pound footbridge in Peterborough, ensuring that members of the public can continue to cross the A47 easily and safely. GRAHAM was appointed by National Highways, which needed to replace Longthorpe’s old bridge as it approached the end of its life. Now operational, the new 30-meter-long structure (which is located just five meters from the site of the old bridge) was designed to be more accessible for cyclists, pedestrians, and wheelchair users. It was delivered as part of a £250 million package of National Highways projects, geared towards improving safety on the A47 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth. To ensure no biodiversity has been lost as a result of the bridge build, four hundred new trees will be planted locally to replace those it was necessary to remove as part of the project. Wood chippings produced were donated to a community garden in nearby Ravensthorpe and wood from pallets, which had been used to deliver materials to the site, were also given to the community garden where a volunteer transformed them into a model of a steam train. This was subsequently donated to a school nursery. Andrew Harmon, Contracts Manager for GRAHAM, commented: “We’re proud that National Highways appointed GRAHAM to deliver these essential improvements to the major road network. GRAHAM strives to make a difference to communities, and the new footbridge will improve accessibility in the area, making it safer for everyone to cross the A47.” As part of the project, GRAHAM demolished the old arched concrete footbridge, which was built in the 1970s and failed to meet current industry standards. The new structure was constructed whilst keeping the old footbridge open, complete with reinforced containing walls and pre-cast concrete bridge beams. The new bridge also features shallow access ramps for enhanced accessibility, two abutment walls, CFA piling, and a luminated handrail. Its retaining wall contains Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA), a unique, sustainable material. GRAHAM worked to minimise disruption, managing two full weekend closures, and shutdowns of the A47 for the bridge beam delivery and demolition phase. The old bridge was kept open for the duration of the works, with a minibus service provided for members of the public. GRAHAM’s team could only gain access to the site via the A47, as residents live on either side of the structure. GRAHAM have programmed works in April and May to carry out improvement works upgrading central reservation vehicle restraint system and streetlighting Addressing attendees at the bridge opening, Chris Eglinton, National Highways Project Manager for the bridge build, commented: “This is a fantastic day, and I am delighted for everyone whose hard work and professionalism has got us to this point. “Improving the major road network and making it safer – including how you cross over it – is what we do. This new bridge will make that much easier. Whether you’re on a bike or perhaps pushing a pram, I’m sure people will notice the difference.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 yesterday confirmed that ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ – the two giant tunnelling machines digging HS2’s longest tunnels – have passed Amersham, 5-and-a-half miles into their 10 mile drive under the Chilterns. The enormous 2,000 tonne machines have spent almost two years excavating the twin tunnels between the M25 and South Heath in Buckinghamshire that will help the high speed rail project protect the environment while improving connections between London, Birmingham and the North. Each machine is a 170m long self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with 56,000 concrete segments to form rings and grouting them into place as it moves forward. Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, the first TBMs were launched in Summer 2021 from a site near the M25 and have excavated more than 1.8 million cubic metres of chalk and flint. As well as digging and lining the tunnels, engineers have also completed the excavation of five shafts that will provide ventilation and emergency access near Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham, Little Missenden and an intervention shaft at Chesham Road. The 44m deep shaft at Amersham – which the TBMs have now passed – will be in the middle of a road junction just outside the Buckinghamshire town. A ‘headhouse’ will be built on top of the shaft to house safety equipment, with a flint-faced boundary wall and a pre-patinated zinc roof to help match the natural tones of the surrounding landscape. Once complete, trains will pass through the tunnel at speeds of up to 320km/h, providing zero carbon journeys between London, Birmingham and the north while freeing up capacity on the existing rail network. Martyn Noak, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Tunnel Engineering, said: “The Chiltern tunnel will take HS2 underground and safeguard the woodlands and wildlife habits above the tunnel as well as significantly reducing disruption to communities during construction and operation of the new railway. “I’ve been very impressed with the progress made by Florence and Cecilia as they make their way unseen beneath the Chiltern Hills. It’s great to see how much progress they and the teams excavating the five shafts have made and I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting us this far.” The two TBMs are operated by, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. Each machine has a crew of 17 people, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation. Coralie Peroux, Tunnel Manager, Align ‘Florence and Cecilia reaching our third shaft at Amersham is a great achievement for not only the tunnelling team and the team involved in excavating and preparing the shaft, but also the supporting teams on the surface at the South Portal, manufacturing the concrete segments required to line the tunnel and processing the spoil from the tunnels.” “In particular I would like to pay credit to Align Shafts team, working with our supply chain partners KVJV and Keltbray, who have been working tirelessly over the last few months to ensure the shaft is ready for the arrival of Florence and Cecilia.” Approximately 2.7 million cubic metres of material – mostly chalk and flint – will be excavated during the construction of the tunnels and used for landscaping. Once construction is complete, the temporary buildings at the south portal will be removed and the site landscaped with around 90 hectares of new wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats. Chalk grassland used to be widespread across the hills of southeast England and are considered habitat of international conservation significance with just 700ha left across the Chilterns. HS2 currently has five TBMs in the ground, with a further five due to be launched over the coming years. Together they will create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands including major tunnels on the approach to London and Birmingham. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Atkins, a member of the SNC Lavalin Group, has been appointed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to deliver the detailed design for the Advance Works programme for the MetroLink Project, a high capacity, high-frequency metro railway and integrated public transport network connecting the Greater Dublin Area, including Dublin Airport and city centre. Atkins, supported by its subconsultants RPS, a Tetra Tech company, will develop the detailed design for a programme of activity to precede the main infrastructure works, including utility diversions, archaeological and heritage works, facilitation of land access and environmental monitoring, with the aim of achieving a level of site readiness to facilitate mobilisation of MetroLink’s main infrastructure works. Martina Finn, Managing Director, Atkins Ireland, said “The Metrolink Project will provide Dublin with a modern, interconnected transport system that eases congestion and offers commuters faster, more convenient and cleaner transport options in and around the city. “This appointment builds on our existing role as Operations Advisor for Metrolink and we’re pleased to bring our local teams of experts and global experience in transportation to support Transport Infrastructure Ireland as they progress this exciting project.” MetroLink is one of the key projects identified in Ireland’s National Development Plan. It will be a first-of-a-kind public transport infrastructure in Ireland, with much of the 18.8km route running underground. The Project will link Dublin Airport, Irish Rail, DART, Dublin Bus and Luas services, linking major transport hubs and key destinations in the city centre, and is estimated to carry up to 53 million passengers annually. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New entrance will provide direct access to the M8 and Glasgow Airport Construction has started on a brand new state-of-the-art gatehouse and HGV-grade access road at Westway, Glasgow Airport. The £1.5m investment will boost connectivity by providing quick and direct access from Westway to Junction 28 of the M8, via the recently opened Barnwell Street Bridge, as well as to Glasgow Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS). Planning consent was granted for the project by Renfrewshire Council in November, with completion scheduled for May this year. The works are being undertaken by Luddon Construction. The new gatehouse on the south side of the park will feature enhanced security measures. It will become the primary entrance for HGVs, vastly improving safety and local amenity, by limiting the HGV traffic through Paisley Road and Porterfield Road in Renfrew, as well as reducing journey times and miles from the M8 motorway. Rob Large, Director of Canmoor said: “This is a key milestone in the ongoing evolution of Westway, which will greatly improve our accessibility through enhanced links with Glasgow Airport and the M8, which is now only two minutes away, via the new bridge. “Westway continues to go from strength to strength with the new road and access enabling the next phase of our speculative development plans, due on site this year, for a range of new warehouses and industrial buildings, which will help satisfy market demand for quality and sustainable product in the west of Scotland. “It is fantastic to see Luddon Construction start works on this project. It will make Westway one of the best connected industrial and logistics parks in Scotland, with 24-hour security, and we forecast exciting times ahead, as we continue to invest further.” Graeme Young, Contract Manager of Luddon Construction added: “It is great to be awarded this contract to deliver the new access road at Westway Industrial Park. We look forward to working with the on-site team and delivering this exciting project over the coming months. “Currently we have 12 people on-site working on this contract, with around half from the local area. We also have an apprentice Engineer and Quantity Surveyor, who will gain valuable on-site experience during the works.” Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “It’s pleasing to see work starting on this new gatehouse and entrance, which will benefit business operations at Westway and be welcomed by neighbouring communities through reducing lorry traffic in residential areas. Westway are making the most of the new road bridge we’ve built over the White Cart river and it’s one example of a wide ranging programme of infrastructure improvements taking place right across Renfrewshire, helping business growth and better connecting communities.” Westway is Scotland’s largest fully enclosed industrial park and currently offers over 1,700,000 sq ft of multi-let space, set on a 135-acre self-contained site. It is home to a range of local, national and international businesses including Altrad Babcock, Malin Group, Renewable Parts, DSV Logistics, AMG Group, Steder Group, Star Refrigeration, Kintetsu World Express, The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, Boeing and Bullet Express. A new distribution centre and head office is currently being fitted out by JW Filshill, with opening scheduledfor this spring. Andrew McCracken, Director of JLL said: “Westway is developing all the time and provides an excellent location for businesses involved in the industrial and logistics sector. We anticipate strong demand for the existing, refurbished space, as well as the new developments that will offer modern, energy-efficient buildings of up to 200,000sq ft.” Canmoor’s joint agents are JLL and Colliers, with management by Knight Frank. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 yesterday confirmed that traditional Warwickshire ‘ironstone’ will be used to clad the piers supporting the high speed railway’s new Oxford Canal Viaduct as a nod to the canal’s architectural heritage after engaging with the local community. Set low in the landscape, three concrete spans will carry the railway 62.5m across the canal, towpath and a country lane near the village of Wormleighton close to the border between Warwickshire and West Northants. Local ironstone will be used to face the piers and abutments that face onto the towpath and passing canal boats. Tough and hardwearing, the warm-brown stone been a feature of local buildings for hundreds of years and gets its name from the small quantities of iron ore contained within it. As part of the design process, local residents were given a choice of smooth concrete finish or a rough-cut masonry finish for the viaduct piers – with the majority opting for ironstone. As well as using local stone, the viaduct has been designed to be as open as possible to improve the environment for boaters and walkers, allowing views across the landscape and the horizon. The design combines a simple overall form with a special focus on materials for the parts of the structure that are close to the canal and its visitors. Opened in stages between 1774 and 1790, the 75 mile long Oxford Canal is one of the oldest in Britain and was designed to bring coal from the Coventry coalfields to Oxford and the River Thames. HS2 Ltd’s Senior Project Manager, Paul Cooper said: “The construction of the first canals revolutionised transportation and helped to build the country we live in today so it’s fitting that our contemporary design includes a nod back to those eighteenth-century pioneers.” “Once complete, HS2 will transform journeys across the UK, help to boost the economy and support the UK’s transition to net zero. But it’s also important that key structures like the Oxford Canal Viaduct are sensitive to their location, which is why we were keen to involve the community in key decisions, like the design of the viaduct piers.” Construction of the HS2 project – which is designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and North, help level-up the economy and provide a zero carbon alternative to car and air travel – is ramping up across the UK with almost 30,000 jobs now supported by the project. The Oxford Canal Viaduct is one of 15 viaducts and bridges across the central section of the HS2 route which is being designed by HS2’s main works contractor EKFB – a team made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial and Bam Nuttall – working with architects Moxon and design partners ASC – a team made up of Arcadis, Setec and Cowi. EKFB’s Interface and Stakeholder Director, Simon Matthews said: “The Oxford Canal You Said We Did community event is a prime example of how HS2, EKFB and its designers worked alongside the local community to further enhance the exterior appearance of the viaduct’s supporting piers and abutments. “The local stone detail reflects the canal’s original architectural characteristics which enriches and remains in keeping with its surrounding area. “EKFB is pleased with the outcome from the community event and thanks the community for its input and support.” More information about the design can be found here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mace has been appointed to several major projects for Associated British Ports (ABP). It has been appointed through ABP’s Group Professional Services Framework and will provide a range of services, including project management, cost and commercial advisory, project support and site supervision. The consultancy arm of the business has won work on a number of professional services contracts for schemes across ABP, including at the ports of Immingham, Southampton, Lowestoft and Plymouth, as well as a further project in Newport in Wales. “It’s been an exciting time for our ports team, with these latest wins marking a sizeable expansion in our portfolio. Our team will combine their practical delivery experience in the transportation sector with localised knowledge to provide fresh thinking to deliver the projects successfully. We are looking forward to playing our part in delivering these projects which will leave a lasting positive legacy for their users and wider communities,” said Sean Gray, Director of Transportation, Mace. Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro (roll-on roll-off) terminal in North East Lincolnshire is a major project involving the construction of a new Ro-Ro facility within the eastern side of the port, which will include the creation of two new harbour berths. On this project, which is set to complete in 2025, Mace will provide contract administration, cost management and scheduling services. Once complete, the works will allow increase capacity between the UK’s east coast and continental Europe, predominantly for the freight market, giving more options and supply chain resilience for British businesses. The Port of Southampton project focuses on the expansion of the existing container-to-rail facility in the Western Docks, taking more trucks off the road, reducing emissions and improving air quality. The project will involve an expansion of the existing rail terminal at the dock alongside extending the existing rail loading platform. The finished project will include new access points for HGVs and new site offices at one of the UK’s largest ports. Here Mace’s work will include project management, scheduling, cost management, contract administration and site supervision. Mace’s work at the Port of Lowestoft, otherwise known as the LEEF (Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility) project, will focus on the redevelopment of the Suffolk port’s Outer Harbour. This redevelopment will support offshore windfarms by providing an additional three service operation vessel berths and six crew transfer vessel berths, alongside six acres of land to support the operations and maintenance stages servicing the offshore energy industry. The project positions Lowestoft as a key hub for handling larger, greener vessels together with growing more good jobs. On this project, Mace will provide contract administration, cost management and scheduling services. Additionally, the win on Millbay Ferry terminal in Plymouth will involve delivering a RIBA Stage 3 developed design for the terminal facilities, with upgrades agreed to improve the older existing infrastructure. Mace will provide contract administration, cost management and scheduling services to provide new facilities, aimed to improve the experience of the terminal’s users. The project at Millbay includes creating a new passenger boarding bridge system to connect vessels with the terminal building, updating the existing Ro-Ro ramp and refurbishing part of the historic West Wharf to support ferry operation activities. The upgrades will have a significant impact as part of wider plans to make the facility a key strategic port and cruise terminal with the ability to handle more international freight. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2’s plans for the Balsall Common Viaduct in Warwickshire, recently submitted to Solihull Council, incorporate local feedback focussing on environmental sustainability, landscape integration, visual connectivity and public access. HS2’s main works contractor, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), supported by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra together with architects Weston Williamson + Partners, have engaged with people in the local area over the last year to gather feedback on the viaduct – a 425-metre-long section of the UK’s new zero-carbon high speed rail line. Understanding the landscape context was a key focus of the design, allowing the team to create a viaduct that ‘reflects and reveals’ itself within the landscape. Planting and species selection was another key focus, with the plans now including wet woodland planting using native species to the local area; mixed native woodland plants such as midland hawthorn and black poplar, two notable local species; woodland edge planting to provide screening; and hedgerow planting to improve wildlife connections. Reflecting the historic local growing of flax for weaving into linen, an alternative grass species mix will incorporate blue flowered plants including blue flax, cornflower and forget-me-nots. Bird boxes will be added in the trees in various locations to serve common bird species such as robin, blue tit and great tit. A realignment of Bayleys Brook will increase habitat for fish, aquatic invertebrates and potentially water vole. Design changes have also reduced the size of the railway embankment running parallel to Bayleys Brook by 75 metres, improving the resiliency of the area to flooding, and enhancing views through the viaduct to the wider landscape. To improve connections, the Kenilworth Greenway will be extended to Station Road on the south-eastern side of the existing railway line and a further extension towards Lavender Hall is currently under consideration. Options for cycling and bridleway extensions are also being considered. HS2 Ltd’s Senior Project Manager for Balsall Common, Alan Payne said: “Over the last couple of years, we’ve worked closely with the community and local councillors to incorporate their feedback on Balsall Common Viaduct as much as possible. We’re confident that our plans respect and enhance the local history and natural environment of the area, and will provide new green areas for people and wildlife to enjoy. “The HS2 project supports nearly 30,000 jobs – of which nearly 9,000 are employed in the West Midlands, with local businesses across the region benefitting from supply chain contracts. Once complete, HS2 will transform journeys across the UK, help boost the economy and provide extra capacity on the existing rail network.” Shaun Ruffles, Landscape Architecture Director from HS2’s Design Joint Venture said: “The team have worked hard over the past 4 years to significantly improve on the hybrid Bill design to ensure that the environment and people using the area are at the heart of the design. “The finalised design for the Balsall Common Viaduct has been driven by its context and responds directly to it. The concept of ‘reflect and reveal’ has been key to this, with views of the viaduct revealed and filtered by the mature oak trees in the wider historic landscape. The viaduct is further integrated through its reflection in local water features and in the polished acoustic parapets which will reflect the skyline, lightening the structure further.” BBV will construct a total of 16 piers to carry the viaduct 10m above ground, crossing over Station Road, Bayleys Brook, Heart of England Way Walk and the local floodplain. Construction refinements have reduced the size of each pier by as much as 17% for single piers and 28% for double piers, giving the structure a lighter appearance. Responding to feedback about the look of the viaduct, a section at Station Road will be finished with a bespoke pattern, referencing the local history of the area. People can register to attend an event on Thursday 16 February at Balsall Common Village Hall to view the latest plans and talk to the team: www.hs2.org.uk/balsall-common Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 has revealed images of a big construction milestone in Birmingham city centre, with the completion of the first giant V-shaped pier for the 300 metres long viaduct that will bring high speed trains into the new Curzon Street Station. The five-metre-tall structure is the first pier to be installed for the ‘Curzon No. 3 Viaduct’, which will be the final approach to HS2’s new seven platform station in the city centre. In total, 30 piers will be installed for this viaduct, with heights varying between five and six metres above ground level. This includes four steel tripod piers erected to span over the Digbeth Branch Canal. To cut carbon, a steel industry by-product – ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) has been incorporated into the pier’s manufacturing as an eco-friendly concrete alternative to a traditional concrete mix. Also known as slag sand, GGBS will reduce the embedded carbon of the piers by more than 60%, while ensuring the structure will remain operational for over 120 years. HS2’s Senior Project Manager for Curzon Street, David King said: “It’s fantastic to see this first viaduct pier complete on the Curzon Street site, which starts to bring the design vision for this iconic structure to life. Construction on this site is supporting hundreds of skilled jobs in the region, and once built, Curzon Street Station will put Birmingham at the heart of the new zero-carbon high speed network. “We’re also pleased to see eco-friendly materials being used in the construction method, supporting HS2’s ambition to cut carbon across the project.” Over the last year, HS2’s main works contractor for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) have been carrying out foundation works on site to prepare for the installation of the piers, with the deepest pile reaching 34 metres below ground. The pier was built in two segments, starting with a stem pour which links the viaduct foundation with the V-shaped part of the pier. The construction team then lifted the prefabricated steel cage above the stem and installed steel panels around the cage. Concrete was poured into the formwork and left to cure for one week before removal of the panels, forming the pier’s V shape. Each pier will take up to 4 weeks to be fully installed on site, with the tallest pier reaching up to 6m above the ground. After the piers are in place, teams will begin to form the deck spans connecting the piers using system falsework and formwork with the longest span between each pier stretching over 28 metres across the site. Georgios Markakis, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Section Manager said: “The progress we’re making at our Curzon Street site is clear to see, following the completion of the first viaduct pier. It’s a really proud moment for the team and everyone who’s helped to prepare the site over the last couple of years. “This is just the beginning of a rolling programme, where 30 piers in total will be installed, before the decks are put in place later this year – then the viaduct will really start to take shape.” Curzon No.3 Viaduct is 65 metres at the widest point, and as it approaches the station, the deck widens from a single deck at the eastern end to four separate decks at the western end, creating opportunities for a usable, flexible public space with maximised daylight under the viaduct. The viaducts were designed through a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra and Architects Weston Williamson + Partners, all working for BBV. Curzon Viaduct No.3 is part of the Curzon Street Station Approach area, which is made up of five connected viaducts between Duddeston Junction Viaduct and Curzon Street Station in central Birmingham. Nearly 30,000 people are helping to build HS2, of which nearly 9,000 are employed in the West Midlands. When contractor Mace Dragados signed the contract to build HS2’s Curzon Street Station, they confirmed that over 1,000 jobs – including an estimated 100 new entrant roles and 100 new apprenticeship positions – will be created by the joint venture that will build HS2’s landmark station. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The last of 292 concrete piles that will form the foundations for the UK’s longest railway bridge were installed this week at the site of HS2’s Colne Valley Viaduct, marking a successful end to the first phase of the record-breaking project. Once complete, the 2.1 miles (3.4km) bridge will carry the new high-speed rail line across a series of lakes and waterways near Hillingdon on the north-west outskirts of London. The construction of the foundations, the 56 huge piers and the deck on top, have all been happening in parallel – with separate teams working from north to south. Deck assembly began last year, with more than 500 meters of the viaduct structure now complete. In order to deliver the 66 piles in the lakebed, the team first had to construct over a kilometer of temporary jetties, with cofferdams to hold back the water around each set of foundations. The jetties are also used to transport materials and equipment during the construction of the piers and viaduct deck, keeping vehicles off local roads. Construction of the HS2 project – which is designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and North, help level-up the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel – is ramping up across the UK with almost 30,000 jobs now supported by the project. HS2 Ltd’s Project Client, David Emms said: “Once complete, HS2 will transform journeys across the UK, help to boost the economy and support the UK’s transition to net zero. “The completion of the piling for the Colne Valley Viaduct is a major achievement for our whole team and marks the end of almost two years of hard work. With pier construction and deck assembly also well underway, the viaduct is fast becoming one of the most impressive and recognisable parts of the project.” The viaduct is being built by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick, working with its contractor KVJV– who spent almost two years on the piling. KVJV is a team made up of Keller Group and VSL International. On top of each group of piles – some of which are to a depth of 60m into the ground – a concrete pile cap will support the pier which will in turn support the weight of the bridge structure above. Instead of hammering the piles into the ground, holes were bored before being backfilled to create the piles. The main deck of the viaduct is being built in 1,000 separate segments at a temporary factory nearby and assembled using a bridge-building machine which lifts each piece into position before shifting itself forward to the next pier. Align’s Surface Operations Director, Derek van Rensburg said: “Completing the piling is a great achievement for both Align and the team at KVJV, working over the lakes and waterways across the Colne Valley. We were able to complete the piling with no significant impact on the environment, a great result for the whole team.” Set low into the landscape, the widest spans reserved for where the viaduct crosses the lakes, and narrower spans for the approaches. This design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement the natural surroundings. The design was inspired by the flight of a stone skipping across the water, with a series of elegant spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal. HS2 worked closely with Affinity Water and the Environment Agency to monitor water quality and agree working methods. These were monitored by a team of specialist engineers during construction in order to protect the natural environment. Before work began, an extensive programme of test piling was completed with engineers sinking 12 piles at two locations with geological and structural data from these tests fed back into the design of the viaduct. This resulted in a 10-15% reduction in the depth of the piles and associated time and cost savings. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals