Local MP, Max Wilkinson, met Midlands Connect and rail bosses to hear about the plans for nearly 300 trains a week extra going through Cheltenham due to the £1.75 billion Midlands Rail Hub project. This would deliver around 4 million extra seats each year for passengers on the key railway route between Cheltenham and Birmingham. This would be through an extra four trains on the route each hour, two in each direction. At the meeting, Midlands Connect and Max Wilkinson MP, were also joined by West Midlands Rail Executive. The project will also deliver a jobs boost, with more than 12,750 roles are expected to result from the Midlands Rail Hub programme with construction expected to run from 2025 to 2033.  In 2023, the previous Government committed to ‘full’ delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub, and in February last year, an additional £123m was allocated towards the project, to progress the detailed engineering designs. MP, Max Wilkinson, said:  “Cheltenham’s rail connections are very important for our local economy. Improved links are vital for our town – primarily for business travellers, but also for leisure trips. Whether it’s to the Midlands, towards Bristol, the North or London, we’ll benefit from easier access to and from our town. I’m interested to hear more about the positive opportunities offered by the Midlands Rail Hub and other future Improvements too.” Paul Butters, Director of Communications at Midlands Connect, said: “It was great to meet Max, brief him on the plans and explain how the Midlands Rail Hub could deliver a massive transport boost for the town. Delivering faster and more frequent trains to Cheltenham would make a massive difference and we are working hard to deliver it. “I look forward to working with Max in the months and years ahead to deliver this vital scheme for the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

BOOSTING inner city connectivity, work has begun on a new 85-metre-long walking and cycling bridge over the River Trent in Nottingham. Nottingham City Council has signed a £12.6m delivery agreement with Balfour Beatty for the network arch bridge, which will be 20 metres high from its deck to its peak, weighing in at 160 tonnes, or roughly equivalent to the weight of a blue whale. It is expected that more than 100 people will be employed during the project, including four apprentices. The new foot and cycle bridge will link the north side of the river, where the new Trent Basin community of 350 homes continues to take shape, and the south side of the river, where sports facilities, riverside walks and green spaces are close by. Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard is also part of the scheme, delivering project and cost management, and health and safety services. The firm is operating under Perfect Circle’s unique collaboration and was appointed via the SCAPE Consultancy Framework. Ricky Lee, associate director of project management at Pick Everard, said: “This is a landmark scheme for Nottingham City Council and the wider community, delivering improved cycle and pedestrian connections and wider social benefits across the city. “The bridge itself will be one of longest single-spanning network arch bridges for cyclists and pedestrians in the UK, and naturally a project of this scale requires extensive collaboration across various stakeholders to ensure it is a successful and rewarding scheme for residents and those visiting the city. “We’re looking forward to work commencing on site, which complements wider regeneration efforts across the city and recognises Nottingham as a sustainable place to work and live.” Construction timeline: Errol Wisby, portfolio director at Balfour Beatty, said: “We’re pleased to have partnered with Nottingham City Council and SCAPE to deliver this landmark project, which will enhance connectivity and promote sustainable travel in Nottingham city centre. “We now look forward to works commencing in earnest and seeing the positive impact this project will have on Nottingham and its residents both now and in the future.” The new bridge will be the first built in the city since the 1950s – a key new route between the north side of the river, encompassing popular Colwick Park along with the regenerating Trent Basin area, and the south side of the river with its many sports facilities, including the City Ground, Trent Bridge, Holme Pierrepont and Nottingham Rugby Club. By creating new connections between communities, green spaces, riverside paths and amenities, the bridge will make it easier for people living and working in the local area to travel in a more sustainable way. The bridge is entirely funded by the Transforming Cities Fund, provided by Central Government. The bridge will be the flagship, and final, project to come out of the City Council’s Transforming Cities Fund programme. In addition to the construction of the bridge, work is underway to ensure that it will be well connected to a high-quality cycle route on Daleside Road and wider sustainable transport connections through to the city centre, as well as to along the banks of the river to Colwick Park. Councillor Neghat Khan, Nottingham City Council leader and executive member for strategic regeneration, transport and communications, said: “I’m delighted to share that Nottingham City Council has officially partnered with Balfour Beatty, our trusted lead delivery partner, to bring our exciting new walking and cycling bridge to life. This ambitious project, fully funded by Central Government through the Transforming Cities Fund, marks a significant step toward a greener, more connected future. “I’m eager to see construction progress and watch this landmark take shape on our city’s skyline. Once completed, the bridge will enhance Nottingham’s cycling and pedestrian network, providing a safe, traffic-free route over the river and empowering more people to travel sustainably and healthily.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has announced that it has awarded the Contract for Phase 2 of construction works on its £100m regeneration project to Farrans Construction, as it continues to transform its terminal facilities to dramatically improve the passenger experience and help unlock economic growth for the region. With the terminal extension (Phase 1) due to handover in Summer 2025, the refurbishment of the existing terminal (Phase 2) of LBA: REGEN is expected to complete in Winter 2026, setting up an exciting period of development for the airport. Farrans is a leading building and civil engineering contractor which operates across the UK and Ireland. The company is already on-site completing Phase 1 of the project which involves the construction of the 9,500m2, three-storey terminal extension (pictured). Passengers will benefit from more seating, faster security, new shops and eateries, and a larger baggage reclaim area and immigration hall, as well as improved access for passengers with restricted mobility. In Phase 2, Farrans will be undertaking a full refurbishment of the existing terminal. Works will be delivered in multiple sub-phases to minimise disruption to customers and allow the airport to operate as close to normal as possible. Improvements include the creation of new staircases, lifts and escalators to provide an open plan feel which will complement the new lighter and brighter terminal extension. Remodelled internal spaces will allow improved passenger movement and there will be brand new security and arrivals facilities, World Duty Free and shops, bars and restaurants. By 2030, the regeneration has the potential to create 1,500 new direct jobs at LBA and 4,000 new indirect jobs, as well as contribute a total of £940 million to the local economy*. The regeneration will also help LBA to further decarbonise its operations, as outlined in the airport’s 2030 Net Zero Carbon Roadmap, with the installation of new all electric heating, lighting and machinery, including new baggage belts. It is expected that airlines attracted by the regeneration will accelerate the deployment of their newest, quietest and most efficient aircraft at the airport, in turn reducing the overall environmental impact of LBA’s operations. Vincent Hodder, Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Farrans on Phase 2 of our LBA: REGEN project. We’ve already created a strong working relationship with the team on Phase 1 and as we transition into Phase 2, we’re excited to be able to take our customers along with us on this journey. “It’s also an opportunity to let our customers know that while this important work gets underway, there will be temporary changes to the terminal while we deliver this new and improved customer experience. LBA: REGEN is the first major improvement to our terminal since its opening in 1968 and is long overdue. It’s vitally important to upgrade LBA to the world-class facility Yorkshire deserves.” Cathal Montague, Regional Director at Farrans Construction, said: “We are pleased to be continuing our strong working relationship with Leeds Bradford Airport as they progress with this important improvement project which will have long term benefits for this region. Our experience in the aviation sector has enabled us to work collaboratively with our client to ensure the airport’s operations have continued without disruption, and we will be putting in place similar plans as we move forwards into Phase 2. “Our team is fully invested in the complete delivery of this regeneration project and I am pleased that we will be remaining on site to see the work come to completion at the end of Phase 2. Leeds is an important region for our business, we are all frequent users of LBA and we are looking forward to working together with the airport’s team on the successful delivery of the next stage of the project.” This year, the airport is expected to contribute a total of £460 million to the local economy, directly employing 2,100 people and indirectly supporting 4,500 jobs. *data collected from York Aviation analysis. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The foundations for Britain’s newest high-speed railway station have been completed at Old Oak Common in London, marking a significant step forward for the HS2 project. The 850-metre-long underground station base, which will house six platforms for high-speed trains, has been constructed using 76,000 cubic metres of concrete and 17,000 tonnes of reinforced steel. The base slab covers 45,000 square metres – equivalent to more than six football pitches – and reaches nearly two metres thick at its deepest point. Construction began in April 2023 and required 91 separate concrete pours to complete. The station is being built by Balfour Beatty Vinci SYSTRA joint venture (BBVS). At peak construction, the base slab works employed up to 50 steel fixers and 20 joiners, supported by a team of engineers. The completion of the base slab represents an important milestone in creating this major new transport superhub for London and the UK. When complete, the station will be one of the best connected in the UK, with the six underground platforms allowing high-speed services to reach central London in one direction and the West Midlands in the other, with services running further north via the existing railway. Additionally, eight surface-level platforms are being constructed to provide an interchange to the Great Western Railway, Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express. HS2’s Project Client for Old Oak Common, Peter Gow, said: “Completing the base slab of the underground station box is a key milestone in building HS2’s new super hub station in West London. This is the final stage in completing the foundations for the high-speed station, and will be where HS2 tracks are laid, platforms are constructed and the station building and roof and built above. “At Old Oak Common we are making significant progress in building this state of the art, environmentally friendly, transport hub which will be a key part of the HS2 route.” The excavation of the box was completed in the summer of 2024 with sub-contractor Expanded removing 1.3 million tonnes of London clay. To create the base slab, the team installed blinding, layers of shingle for drainage before a matt could be laid on top. Then a 1.85 metre high reinforcement layer was installed– with the team fixing the steel by hand. Finally, concrete was poured to compete the slab, competing the foundations for the high-speed station area of Old Oak Common. London Concrete, part of the Holcim Group, has supplied the concrete used to complete the base slab from a dedicated batching plant on site. Over 90% of the concrete used for the base slab was manufactured on site, reducing lorry movements and CO2 emissions. In addition, low carbon ECOPact concrete has been used, contributing to the drive to reduce carbon used in construction. Measures such as this, as well as the innovative design, have contributed to the station being recognised as BREAAM outstanding, putting it in the top 1% of environmentally friendly buildings in the UK. Steve O’Sullivan, Project Director for Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA, joint venture said: “With the completion of the base slab, we have achieved another significant milestone at Old Oak Common. In less than two years, we have carried out 91 concrete pours of between 600m3 and 1 000m3 each. Logistically, this has been a huge undertaking, requiring detailed planning and collaboration between HS2, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA and our supply chain partners. “This latest step will enable us to progress to the next phase of works, with construction of the high-speed platforms already underway”.   Work is now underway on the six HS2 service platform with wall frameworks being installed ready for concrete pouring. The high-speed platform slabs are currently being manufactured by Explore in Worksop and installation will begin this spring. The team are also working above the base slab to construct the ground floor level of the station before the superstructure can be built, creating the vibrant station environment. Tunnelling work to connect the station to the HS2 network is being done by HS2’s London tunnels contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG JV. In the eastern section of the box, the team are preparing to launch two giant tunnelling machines towards Euston. In the western side of the box, the team will excavate the tunnel using the sprayed concrete lining method. Old Oak Common station in West London is being built on land previously used for railways depots. The site sits between the Elizabeth Line depot and Great Western Mainline which is being realigned so Elizabeth Line, Great Western Mainline and Heathrow Express trains can call at the station providing unrivalled connectivity. As Britain celebrates 200 years of the Great British railways this year, the progress at Old Oak Common is important part of Britain’s railway future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM is pleased to announce the successful completion and opening of the National Highways M2 junction 5 improvements scheme.  The project, which began in June 2021 was commissioned under the Road Investment Strategy (RIS 2), and has delivered a transformative upgrade to one of the UK’s busiest and previously most dangerous junctions, improving connectivity, safety, and traffic flow in the region. Located at the intersection of the M2 and A249 in Kent, the upgraded junction provides a critical link between the Isle of Sheppey, Maidstone, and the M20 motorway, which connects Dover to London and Sheerness.  With the improvements now completed, motorists will benefit from enhanced safety and smoother journeys, addressing long-standing concerns over congestion and accident risks. The project’s centrepiece is the new Stockbury flyover, a nearly mile-long structure that eliminates the need for traffic to interact with the heavily congested Stockbury roundabout.  The flyover, constructed using 1,500 bespoke Reinforced Earth RECO panels, features a design that blends with the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by incorporating locally sourced flint and cobble.  The two bridges supporting the flyover were constructed using reinforced concrete beams, each weighing up to 56 tonnes, which were installed using a 450-tonne mobile crane during August and October 2023 without disrupting live traffic. In addition to the flyover, two new dedicated slip roads now provide direct access from the A249 to the M2, bypassing the Stockbury roundabout entirely to provide reduced congestion. A larger, redesigned gyratory system for the roundabout has also been created, with the removal of existing traffic lights, alongside the creation of a safer link road connecting Maidstone Road and Oad Street. Throughout the project, GRAHAM demonstrated its commitment to social value and community engagement. Efforts included construction aid for local facilities, volunteer days, and donations to charities such as Demelza Hospice, Maidstone Homeless Care, and Dandelion Time.  This approach earned the project full marks in the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), reflecting their dedication to community involvement, workforce care, and environmental responsibility. Discussing the completion of the scheme, Dave Brown GRAHAM Contracts Director, remarked: “It is with great pride that we announce the successful completion of the M2 Junction 5 Improvements Scheme, which is a testament to the hard work, collaboration, and commitment of the entire team. We are proud to deliver a project that not only improves safety and connectivity for motorists, but leaves a lasting positive impact on the community. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their efforts and the local residents for their support throughout this journey.” Jilwan Rahimi, National Highways Project Manager, said: “We are incredibly proud to have completed a project of this scale and be leaving behind a positive legacy for the local community. “We are grateful for everyone’s patience and understanding while carrying out this work, which will provide smoother and safer journeys for thousands of road users every day.” To celebrate the project’s completion, a video showcasing the four-year construction journey, and the challenges faced while working in close proximity to live traffic is now available to watch here: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The second stage of consultation has launched today to improve two key roads linking Leeds to Wakefield and Pontefract. Run in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the consultation aims to make it safer and more accessible to walk, wheel and cycle, as well as improving bus reliability.  The consultation follows on from a previous public engagement where residents were asked about initial proposals for the schemes. Results from the first round include: For the A61 in Lofthouse, the proposals focus on two key junctions which have known safety concerns, lack of safe crossing points for school students and pedestrians, and cars travelling at speed – the A61 Jumbles Lane junction and the A61 Carlton Lane junction. Improvements to B6481 Pontefract Road, from Thwaite Gate to M1 junction 44, focus on creating a segregated cycle track along the route, linking to existing cycling provision on the A639 Thwaite Gate, allowing residents a safer and more direct route to Leeds City Centre and the ability to access businesses along the industrial estate, which often operates night-time shifts which are not suited to public transport use. If the proposals were to go ahead, a £9.14million funding pot from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund, ringfenced to transport schemes, would be invested to carry out the works – £2m for the A61 and £7.14m for Pontefract Road. Proposals for the A61 include:  Proposals for B6481 Pontefract Road include: Following feedback, the council is proposing to deliver these improvements first to meet the funding deadline, subject to the second round of consultation. The remaining proposals which are not currently being taken forward may be revisited in future should funding become available. Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: “This scheme will create a safer and more accessible experience for all types of road user on these roads. The proposals help people access Leeds City Centre, local amenities and employment by creating alternative, sustainable ways to travel to essential destinations. By offering safe and easy alternatives to the car, we can help to meet our Leeds Transport Strategy targets and create a prosperous, less congested Leeds, with healthier residents”.  Councillor Peter Carlill, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:  “These proposals will make it easier and safer for everyone to walk, wheel, cycle and use public transport on two busy routes. I’d encourage people to have their say so that we can continue building a greener, better-connected West Yorkshire for all.” Have your say You can have your say before the consultation closes on 11.59pm on 10 March 2025. 1.      Feedback online by visiting the Your Voice webpage. 2.      Attend one of our in-person drop-in events:   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

As part of National Highways’ National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme, WJ Group has helped install 22 new refuge bays between junctions 21a and 26 of the M6 using its latest coloured surfacing product. The NEAR scheme introduced by National Highways aims to reduce the distance between emergency refuge bays along smart motorways to provide vehicles and drivers with a safe space to pull over. Having secured £390m from the government during the second Road Investment Strategy rollout, an additional 150 bays are being added across the network. A critical part of the installation process is ensuring that the new bays have high friction levels to reduce stopping distances and help drivers come to a stop after travelling at a significant speed. Without this, vehicles may skid when braking. With emergency refuge bays playing an important role in ensuring motorists’ safety in situations such as breakdowns, the speed at which they can be installed and maintained is critical in reducing downtime. However, traditional methods for installing approved surfacing solutions can take up to two days per bay to complete as well as requiring workers and vehicles to be on the site for an extended period. In turn, this leads to environmental, safety and cost implications. To counteract these issues, National Highways asked the Smart Motorway Project Alliance (SMPA) to create a new solution. To achieve this, WJ Group developed RapidGrip. Combining pigment, aggregate and binder, this solution means that only a one coat application is required, eliminating the need for a sweeper truck and two curing periods. Created with the support of the SMPA members, it allowed two bays to be completed per shift via a single truck. As a result, WJ Group was able to retrofit all 22 bays across 14 shifts and achieve an average of 78 pendulum test value – the measurement to determine friction levels of a surface –helping drivers safely pull over while travelling along one of the busiest sections of the M6. Martin Webb, Innovation Director at WJ Group said: “When drivers find themselves in the position where they need to pull over on the motorway, they require a safe and dedicated space to do so. With our RapidGrip solution, National Highways is ensuring that drivers are at less risk of skidding when coming to a stop. “Innovations such as RapidGrip mean that the installation and retrofit of these bays can be carried out with minimal disruption to the public and ensure workers are not on the road for an extended period, while maximising the safety of road users.” For more information about WJ Group, please visit: https://www.wj.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals