Network Rail has awarded civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Barhale a contract to carry out a programme of key access upgrades at Finsbury Park station. The principal focus will be the installation of two new lifts to the island platforms serving the national rail network. The works continue the upgrade
Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has reached a major milestone on the new M11 Junction 7a project at Harlow, Essex, following the installation of the structural steel beams to create a new overbridge at the junction. The new Mores Overbridge will form an integral part of the infrastructure project, which has
Crossrail has today handed over the Woolwich Elizabeth line station to Transport for London, following the successful delivery by Balfour Beatty; marking the fourth central London station to be transferred ahead of Trial Operations beginning later this year. Delivered alongside its design partners, Mott MacDonald, the revitalised station will ensure
WORKS are continuing at six renovation projects across the north thanks to specialist contractor The Input Group – including Manchester Victoria, Keighley, Ilkley, Alnmouth, Redcar, Mills Hill and Prescot railway stations. The projects, which are being carried out on behalf of Northern, comprise the refurbishment of both public and staff facilities
Commercial trucking is big business. At any moment, tens of thousands of trucks are at work all over America, hauling goods from place to place. They’re often active at all hours of the day and night. Trucking has existed for many decades, and it will doubtless continue to do so.
“Smart ports are the only ports that will survive … Smart means to me: no waste of space, time, money and natural resources.” – Olaf Merk, Administrator for Ports and Shipping at the ITF of the OECD As the commercial success of a port creates greater prosperity for it’s community,
HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson is hosting an online event for small and medium sized businesses in the East Midlands to demonstrate just how simple it is to register an interest in joining HS2’s supply chain. Construction of the first phase of Britain’s new railway, between Birmingham and London, is expected
The Transport for the North Board meets today, Wednesday 9 June at 1pm, for a Chief Executive Consultation Call bringing together Northern mayors, political and business leaders on key issues facing the region. The meeting – available to watch online – will see Board members consider some of the most important
On the first day of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone HS2 Ltd outlines how the project’s new low-carbon technology will support Birmingham City Council’s objective to reduce pollution and improve air quality in the city. HS2 is going way beyond requirements to lower carbon and emissions on its construction sites, and
Work is ‘progressing well’ on the new £53m Poynton Relief Road scheme – with the first two beams for the new bridge now in place. The design and build contract for the 3km road was awarded in autumn 2019 to construction and civil engineering specialist contractor Graham, which carried out
Network Rail has awarded civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Barhale a contract to carry out a programme of key access upgrades at Finsbury Park station. The principal focus will be the installation of two new lifts to the island platforms serving the national rail network. The works continue the upgrade and refurbishment programme at Finsbury Park which has improved the station’s entrance ways and thoroughfares. It will make step-free access possible throughout, to the benefit of many rail passengers. Alongside the installation of the two new lift shafts, Barhale will also make alterations to the platform canopies and create new entrances between the shafts and the existing tunnel passageways. Finsbury Park Station is a major transport interchange between national rail, and London’s underground and bus services. Pre-Covid-19, it saw more than 30 million passengers per year. According to contracts manager Jaimie Lawson, one of the key challenges will come from working in a live station. “This is a major intermodal transport hub for London,” he said. “Although passenger numbers are down because of the pandemic, this is still a very busy location. Safety will be paramount – and we will also face the constraints of working within COVID-19 protocols. “The project itself is mainly civils, M&E and building services but it presents some real challenges in terms of logistics – especially getting materials in and out while working across the different levels of the site. To make sure there is minimal disruption and to deliver the project as quickly as possible, we will be working 24 hours in three shifts, 5 days a week. Operational constraints also mean that we will be drawing on Barhale’s tunnelling heritage and working with smaller-scale specialist equipment.” Director Andy Flowerday sees the contract as an important addition to Barhale’s portfolio of rail projects. “This award recognises both Barhale’s experience in rail and of working on highly constrained sites,” he said. “Strategically, rail is a key sector, so we are really pleased to be given the go-ahead at an important and highly-visible upgrade to one of the busiest stations in London outside of Zone 1. “We look forward to delivering a first-class result for Network Rail and for the millions of users who pass through Finsbury Park’s portals every year.” Construction is scheduled to start in August 2021. Completion is expected by late 2022. ends
Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has reached a major milestone on the new M11 Junction 7a project at Harlow, Essex, following the installation of the structural steel beams to create a new overbridge at the junction. The new Mores Overbridge will form an integral part of the infrastructure project, which has been funded through Highways England and Essex County Council to create a new junction between the existing junctions 7 at Harlow and 8 at Stansted on the M11, providing a new east-west link through the Essex town. Along with a new link road and upgrade to Gilden Way in Harlow, the junction will improve access to the area’s busy road network, helping facilitate growth and creating better connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors. The new Mores Overbridge links the eastern and western sides of the new M11 Junction 7a which, via a ‘dumbbell roundabout’ arrangement, will provide full connectivity with new northbound and southbound on-slips and off-slips. GRAHAM’s project team completed the beam installation over a two-week period to include offline rigging and de-rigging of the main lifting crane. Four overnight closures of the M11 were utilised to allow the safe lifting and installation of the beams. The closures also allowed for the installation of all the permanent formwork panels to the deck and the installation of the permanent bracing between the pairs of beams. Working in collaboration with Highways England the closures were further used for other maintenance works on the M11 preventing the need for numerous other closures and therefore minimising the impact on the road users. David Slevin, Project Manager for GRAHAM, said: “We are really pleased to have completed this significant milestone of the M11 Junction 7a scheme. The scale of the overall operation to complete these works was huge. With a 600t capacity crawler crane being deployed for the main lifts the establishment of the crane platforms, crane assembly area and beam assembly and delivery areas proved highly challenging tasks. “Thankfully, we were able to call on the vast engineering experience of our team and the teams of our supply chain partners to complete the delivery, lifting and installations without any issues arising. We now shift our focus onto the next phase of works in this important infrastructure project which will provide major benefits for Harlow and its surrounding areas.” The major earthworks operations and drainage installation works on the scheme are also underway on the junction and link road into Harlow. With these due for completion in autumn 2021 the surfacing, fencing, landscaping and other finishing works will then continue into 2022. Significant surfacing works to the widened existing Gilden Way carriageway are also due to commence in June with a strategic series of planned weekend closures being utilised to allow the works to be completed safely and efficiently. The £39.5m M11 Junction 7a scheme has been funded through Highways England, the Department for Transport, Essex County Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and is scheduled for opening next year.
Crossrail has today handed over the Woolwich Elizabeth line station to Transport for London, following the successful delivery by Balfour Beatty; marking the fourth central London station to be transferred ahead of Trial Operations beginning later this year. Delivered alongside its design partners, Mott MacDonald, the revitalised station will ensure quicker, easier and more convenient travel for commuters, residents and visitors each day both into and out of Woolwich, whilst also supporting wider regeneration in the local area – creating numerous jobs and opportunities for local businesses. Works to the much-anticipated station involved the delivery of a 276-metre-long underground station, with Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering providing the associated diaphragm walls and bearing piles. In addition, Balfour Beatty was responsible for installing Mechanical and Electrical plant at two portals as well as station operations rooms where the Elizabeth line trains will surface from either end of the Thames Tunnel at North Woolwich and Plumstead. Andy Lambden, Balfour Beatty Project Director, said: “This is an incredible milestone for both Balfour Beatty and Crossrail – one that signifies another step towards the official opening of the long-awaited, iconic, Elizabeth Line. “Testament to our unrivalled expertise from across the Group, we are delighted to have safely and successfully delivered a station which will transform travel across south east London, whilst also supporting economic growth in the area through new employment and business opportunities.” Mark Wild, Crossrail Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted that Woolwich station has been handed over to Transport for London. Woolwich is a beautiful station, surrounded by history which has been brilliantly captured by all those working on the station build. I am proud of everyone who has worked so hard to get this magnificent new railway station over the line.” David Eastland, Mott MacDonald’s project design director, C530 Woolwich Station, said: “This has been a remarkable programme of works with some amazing people and skills. The station is a living legacy providing, transport homes and jobs, so it gives me great pleasure to see the station handed over as part of the transformation of the Woolwich area and the wider contribution to London.” Located on the site of the Royal Arsenal which was home to a military academy and previously used for the manufacture of guns and explosives, munitions testing and the production of medals including the ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ which was given to the next of kin of those killed during World War One, the station’s design subtly references the military past of the site. Why not watch the video below and learn more from Andy Lambden, Balfour Beatty’s Project Director?
WORKS are continuing at six renovation projects across the north thanks to specialist contractor The Input Group – including Manchester Victoria, Keighley, Ilkley, Alnmouth, Redcar, Mills Hill and Prescot railway stations. The projects, which are being carried out on behalf of Northern, comprise the refurbishment of both public and staff facilities in each build. With construction completed this month (June 2021), the £2.6 million Manchester Victoria reconfiguration included the redesign of its facilities across three phases in order to better suit the day-to-day operations of the station. This comprised an overhaul of the station’s mechanical and electrical systems, relocation of IT infrastructure including security cameras, PA and rail control systems and adaptations to the main Grade II listed building – which were centered around modernising NTL staff accommodation to improve employee experience. Chris Monk, managing director at The Input Group, said: “We’re incredibly excited about working across these projects as they will help to improve infrastructure across the north and contribute towards the reopening of the region’s tourist industry. “After a difficult year it’s great to see the country moving again, so we’re pleased to play our part in preparing these stations for a long-awaited rise in footfall – whether it be for work or leisure – that will help to rebuild the travel sector and support the national economy.” Keighley, Ilkley, Alnmouth and Redcar railway stations, which are due to be complete by July 2021, have all been commissioned as a joint project of works. The programmes include full redecoration with new carpet tiles and non-slip flooring, new kitchenettes for staff, refurbished toilets with updated sanitary facilities and wall coverings across all four projects. Chris continued: “We have a great working relationship with the team at Northern – having worked with them on multiple staff accommodation schemes in the past – and we’re incredibly happy that they have chosen The Input Group to work across these projects. Building strong client relationships is essential to our company ethos, which is why we work hard to deliver our projects on time, on budget and to an incredibly high standard, so we’re really excited to be making progress on these projects.” Mills Hill railway station will also be receiving a £450,000 park and ride refurbishment, which will see its number of parking spaces increase from 24 to 58 – including three fully accessible and three extra-wide spaces. The Input Group team will also be installing new lighting and CCTV cameras, creating motorbike parking and a one-way traffic system, and carrying out resurfacing works. The project is part of a wider initiative to improve accessibility to the station and encourage residents to travel more sustainably. The Input Group team also recently improved accessibility at Prescot railway station, with more than £3 million worth of refurbishment works completed this month (June 2021). The station now features a new lift shaft on each platform, a contemporary ticket office, fully accessible toilet facilities and enhanced lighting and signage throughout. The car park has also been resurfaced and remodelled to include a dedicated drop-off area, as well as having new secure cycle parking installed. These upgrades have made the station fully accessible with step free access between the car park, the station platforms and station facilities. Steve Kilby, senior project manager at Northern, said: “I am delighted that the improvement works at the Prescot station are now complete, especially as they continued despite the pandemic. Through a truly collaborative approach, Northern, Merseytravel, Knowsley Council, Network Rail, Seed Architects and The Input Group have worked so hard to make this happen under challenging circumstances. “The £3.6m project was delivered on time, within budget and with no accidents. The station is now much more welcoming and accessible for people who not only live in the town, but also for people who are visiting Prescot.” To find out more about The Input Group, please visit www.inputgroup.co.uk or contact marketing@inputgroup.co.uk.
Commercial trucking is big business. At any moment, tens of thousands of trucks are at work all over America, hauling goods from place to place. They’re often active at all hours of the day and night. Trucking has existed for many decades, and it will doubtless continue to do so. There are self-driving trucks in the works, but for the moment, companies need human operators to drive these big rigs and get them safely to where they’re going. Technology is always coming out that can help truck drivers, and GPS is the perfect example. Let’s take a closer look at truck driver GPS and what it can do for the modern trucker. History vs. Today Before we get into what you want to look for in the best truck driver GPS, you should know about the not-too-distant past out of which truck driver navigation comes. Not many years ago, truck drivers would rely on paper maps to get around. They would stop to consult them at diners and weighing stations, sometimes taking into account construction projects and road closures. A trucker would have to learn the country pretty quickly. They would need to know how to shave minutes off their routes and what roads to take if construction closed a particular one. It was an imperfect system, but the average trucker did the best they could with it. They had no viable alternative. The Onboard Infotainment System Many vehicles these days feature infotainment systems, not just commercial trucks. These systems usually have GPS capabilities. However, the companies did not create all of them equally. Some of them can instantly find routes to virtually any destination within the continental United States. Others are slower, and truckers probably won’t care for those as much. Truckers make their living delivering their payloads as quickly as possible, and they chafe whenever they encounter a delay. The best onboard infotainment system that also includes a GPS feature is the one that allows a trucker to plug in the coordinates and hit the road with no delays. They should see a clear route materialize on the screen in front of them. They should never have to do anything more than glance at that screen to see where they need to go next. What Else Might a Trucker Expect from a GPS? The GPS should also give the trucker instructions on when and where to turn in a clear, understandable voice. If it speaks with a thick accent or garbles some of the words, that’s not helpful. The best unit will also feature information about where commercial trucks can and cannot go. In that respect, trucker ones differ from systems that someone driving a family sedan would most appreciate. A trucker’s GPS should feature real-time traffic information. If the GPS knows that there’s a traffic jam up ahead, it might be able to instruct the driver on where they can go to avoid it. Are There Any Other GPS Features a Trucker Might Want? Some truckers may also look for trip logging capabilities. If the GPS can log a trucker’s route before they leave, they will know approximately what to expect along the way. The trucker’s company can also refer back to the trip log if they want to know what route the trucker took and how long it took them to get to their destination. The screen size can be a more critical issue than you might think. Some GPS screens are relatively large, and that can distract a trucker and cause an accident. Commercial trucks are enormous, so distracted driving is not something the trucker or their company will ever want to occur. The screen should not be too small, either. If the trucker has to squint at it to make out when they should turn and where, that can be just as lethal as having too large of a screen. Some GPS options show places where a commercial truck can stop and refuel. Most truckers considered that to be advanced technology not long ago, but now, it is much more common. Knowing where to stop and gas up can save lots of time and trouble on a long trip from coast to coast. What most commercial truck drivers come to realize is that there is no single answer regarding what GPS to use. They may have to experiment with a few different ones before coming across the ideal model for their needs.
“Smart ports are the only ports that will survive … Smart means to me: no waste of space, time, money and natural resources.” – Olaf Merk, Administrator for Ports and Shipping at the ITF of the OECD As the commercial success of a port creates greater prosperity for it’s community, pollution levels tend to increase. Multiple emission sources including those from ships, port handling equipment (diesel engines), the process of unloading break-bulk and those generated within the city itself create a complex air quality landscape with many moving parts. How do we accurately assess it? Traditionally, expensive reference equipment has been used by government sources to monitor background air quality. These remain the gold standard at a legislative level, yet it is understandable that port authorities would hesitate to deploy them in a measurement campaign. Not only are they very expensive, but they are also large and do not lend themselves to being easily repositioned to suit different measurement needs. The other option has been to use passive diffusion tubes, a simple indicative technique. Whilst very low-cost and can measure longer-term average gas concentrations in a specific location, they cannot track changes in air quality over minutes, hours or days. Self regulation is vital for port authorities to understand their impact on air quality and to select actions to address emissions under their control. Yet, the financial burden of installing analytical equipment suitable for comprehensive monitoring has been prohibitive. Over the course of the last three years, South Coast Science has worked to develop a portable product capable of data quality that is comparable with the reference-level monitor, yet at only one-tenth of the cost. Robust measurement of pollutants such as SO2, NO2, particulates, VOCs and others can now be established with ease from products offering high accuracy and repeatability. All pollutant and device data is cloud-mediated and can be viewed online via a cloud dashboard. It is clear that this new technology in general remains less well established than the traditional reference instruments. South Coast Science has responded to this with a data correction algorithm and a policy of data transparency, which allows users and external specialists to interrogate and validate the data provided by the system. To this end, South Coast Science has developed an open-source platform that allows customers to do their own checks. The collaboration with global environmental consultancy Ricardo PLC is described in a short video here. The task of establishing baselines early on should be one of the aims of any measurement campaign so that subsequent pollution mitigation strategies can be measured and effectiveness established. For this purpose where priorities are yet to be decided, consulting services might be used to assist in focussing on the quickest wins with the most economical solutions. South Coast Science has worked with independent air quality consultants with many years of experience in various market sectors and would be happy to pass on details. For more information please contact David.Johnson@southcoastscience.com.
HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson is hosting an online event for small and medium sized businesses in the East Midlands to demonstrate just how simple it is to register an interest in joining HS2’s supply chain. Construction of the first phase of Britain’s new railway, between Birmingham and London, is expected to generate around 400,000 contract opportunities. And as part of the Government’s drive to build back better from the pandemic, it wants to see British businesses capitalise on the £25bn worth of opportunities that are expected to flow out into the wider supply chain over the coming years. The one-hour business webinar, which will be held on Tuesday, 22nd June at 3.00pm, will include an opening address from the Minister, as well as the opportunity to hear from local firms who are already working on the project. They will share their personal experiences of how HS2 has helped their business to grow, along with tips and advice on how to stand out as a winning bidder. HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “HS2 is at the heart of the Government’s commitments to build back better after the Covid-19 pandemic, level up communities and drive economic growth across the country. “The vast majority of contracts on HS2 have gone to British businesses, so I’d encourage businesses to get involved and take the opportunities offered by this once in a generation investment in our country’s transport infrastructure.” Sitting at the heart of the HS2 network, businesses in the Midlands are well placed to bid for work and secure their place in HS2’s supply chain, which already includes over 2,000 businesses – 97% of which are UK-based. The East Midlands is home to some of the UK’s most recognised talent pools and leads the way in the manufacturing, automotive and rolling stock sectors. But HS2’s supply chain team is eager to spread the word that the share of opportunity extends far beyond the products and services you might traditionally associate with major infrastructure projects. Robin Lapish, HS2’s supply chain manager explains: “The scale of work that will be delivered to construct HS2 into the next decade and beyond presents a vast opportunity. “In the current climate, local businesses are looking for confidence and assurance in the supply chain and a contract with HS2 provides that. My advice to small businesses is to invest an hour of your time – HS2 isn’t just about track and trains, and that’s exactly what this webinar will demonstrate.” The business webinar is free to attend. To register your attendance, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hs2-how-can-east-midlands-businesses-get-involved-tickets-158133486515
The Transport for the North Board meets today, Wednesday 9 June at 1pm, for a Chief Executive Consultation Call bringing together Northern mayors, political and business leaders on key issues facing the region. The meeting – available to watch online – will see Board members consider some of the most important issues facing transport investment in the North, including a significant change to the structure of the rail industry following the recently unveiled Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail. The Board will also discuss the Government’s upcoming Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands and the pressing need for a sustained rail investment programme for the short, medium and long-term, as well as TfN’s long-term role in driving benefits for the North. Items to be discussed include: The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail and creation of Great British Railways Manchester Recovery Task Force and investment in the Castlefield Corridor The latest on the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan and the business case for Northern Powerhouse Rail Priorities for the 2021 Spending Review expected later this year Governance matters, including selection of the next TfN Chair LIVE online – Click here to watch Click here for agenda and papers This meeting is open to the public and the media (exceptions for private items).
On the first day of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone HS2 Ltd outlines how the project’s new low-carbon technology will support Birmingham City Council’s objective to reduce pollution and improve air quality in the city. HS2 is going way beyond requirements to lower carbon and emissions on its construction sites, and with HS2’s Curzon Street Station site in the city centre, the project confirms that the use of the latest, cleanest technology will lower emissions, protecting the environment and keeping people safe. A whole range of innovations are being introduced to cut emissions and improve local air quality, not just in Birmingham but right across the project. These include hybrid, zero emissions machinery, renewable energy, alternative fuels and recycled products. In addition, HS2 is leading a series of ground-breaking trials in conjunction with academia and its supply chain, set to bring massive improvements in local air quality and welfare conditions for construction site workers, with wider positive public health and environmental benefits for communities. The project has set standards for the use of the lowest emitting vehicle engines across all contractors, as well as set targets for contractors to go beyond these, as technology improves. In addition, the project has also set industry leading emissions standards for all machinery including excavators, dumpers, large cranes and piling machines. HS2’s top ten air quality innovations: HS2’s Air Quality Lead Andrea Davidson said: “It’s vital that we improve air quality in our towns and cities. As construction work ramps up across Phase One, HS2 is working with our contractors, supply chain, UK manufacturers and academia to cut emissions by developing ways to reduce reliance on diesel, and to promote the use of alternative technologies such as full electric, renewables, hydrogen fuel-cell and hybrid technology. “Birmingham Clean Air Zone is also about encouraging people to change their transport habits. By providing a cleaner, greener way to travel, HS2 will help cut the number of cars and lorries on our roads, cut demand for domestic flights, and help the country’s push to reduce carbon emissions.” In 2017, road traffic accounted for 91% of transport emissions. In the same year cars, taxis and light vans were responsible for 70% of road transport emissions. By moving high speed trains on to a new, dedicated intercity line, HS2 will free up space on the existing rail network to run more local and regional commuter trains. With more reliable, local frequent stopping services available, people will be able to make the shift from road to rail and cut their carbon footprint. This will help to reduce emissions from road transport, reduce congestion and improve the quality of our air.
Work is ‘progressing well’ on the new £53m Poynton Relief Road scheme – with the first two beams for the new bridge now in place. The design and build contract for the 3km road was awarded in autumn 2019 to construction and civil engineering specialist contractor Graham, which carried out a detailed design work and site surveys. The latter included archaeological and ecological appraisals and creation of new ecological habitats before the main construction began. A recent major milestone on the project, which is due to be completed late next year, saw the lifting into place of the first two precast concrete bridge beams for the new Chester Road overbridge. A 400-tonne crane was used to lift the 21.4m beams into position, with each weighing 38 tonnes. The operation was completed within a day and the beams will form part of the largest structure in the scheme. Key earthworks operations began in April. These must be carried out during the dry months of the year and are essential to the progress of the scheme. The ‘cut and fill’ work will involve excavation, transportation, placement and compaction of about 240,000 tonnes of material. The road is expected to open to traffic in Autumn 2022. Funding for the scheme was agreed by government earlier this year, following a successful bid by Cheshire East Council for local growth funding administered by Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership. Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of the authority’s highways and transport committee, said: “It’s great to see significant progress being made on this long-awaited scheme. The council has maintained a clear vision and commitment to investing in infrastructure throughout the pandemic. This new road will improve links to Macclesfield and the surrounding area, open up some much-needed employment land and also reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in Poynton.” Graham project manager Nick Hodder said: “Despite the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic to the project, our team has worked tirelessly with the council and our stakeholders to ensure great progress across this much-needed scheme.” “The lifting into place of the first two concrete bridge beams for the largest bridge along the route marked a major milestone of the construction phase and the team have received plenty of interest in our construction activities taking place on Chester Road. It was great to see many members of the public watching the beams being lifted into place from a safe distance.” “Earthworks recently started, with various machines now based full time on the project, performing different roles to fulfil these operations. I would like to thank the local residents and commuters for their continued patience while we deliver this important infrastructure programme.”
