In collaboration with HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd, WJ Group were tasked with applying new road markings on the M6/M42 link road as part of long-term traffic management to support the construction of Phase One of the High-Speed rail network from London to Birmingham. The well-known high-speed rail project has several implications for the UK’s strategic road network, as new structures and road alterations are required to enable it to cross the road network. Through their close partnership and knowledge of each other businesses, alongside shared aims of improving road worker safety and delivery efficiency, HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd worked with WJ to utilise two of their newest innovations on this scheme, the ThermoPrint and Autonomous PreMarker. These innovations both remove operatives from the potential dangers of working on the carriageway and into the safety of the vehicle. WJ Autonomous PreMarker Owing to the project’s long-term nature and considering future traffic management changes to the road layout to accommodate construction works, the WJ Autonomous PreMarker was deployed. The WJ Autonomous PreMarker represents a significant advancement in road marking technology by dramatically enhancing safety and efficiency during the pre-marking process. Traditionally, and still primarily, this process is conducted manually, exposing operatives to significant safety risks and creating substantial inefficiencies. By integrating state-of-the-art GPS-based positioning, advanced camera equipment and sophisticated onboard computing, the Autonomous PreMarker automates this process, removing operatives from the carriageway and greatly increasing efficiency. It does this by recording the exact position of road markings at normal traffic speeds, and then accurately pre-marking before new markings are installed. During this scheme, the equipment recorded all current longitudinal markings on this section of the network, so when they come to be changed and reinstated in years to come, the data will already be available to WJ, helping to improve efficiency and ensure they are replaced precisely where they were. ThermoPrint The second innovation utilised on this scheme was the ThermoPrint, which installed 10 sets of M6 & M42 markings and arrows, delivering multiple benefits for safety, efficiency and performance. ThermoPrint is an automated road marking application machine that effectively removes the potentially hazardous, manual process of laying thermoplastic road markings by hand. This innovative technology shifts operatives from the carriageway to the safety of a vehicle cab, reducing the risks associated with working close to live traffic. Productivity is also enhanced by enabling quicker application of road markings without the need to set out before installation, reducing the time spent on site, and consequently improving project deliverable timelines. Additionally, it delivers higher retro-reflectivity, improved visibility and uniformity in application whilst its unique dotted line marking system enhances wet night performance by facilitating drainage, ensuring the marking stands proud of surface water, increasing visibility for road users. Conclusion The deployment of WJ Group’s latest innovations on the high-speed rail scheme, in collaboration with HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd, marks a significant step forward in enhancing road worker safety and operational efficiency. By utilising the Autonomous PreMarker and ThermoPrint technologies on the M6/M42 link road, the partnership has shown a potential future for the sector where fewer people are working on the carriageway, whilst also streamlining project timelines. These innovations demonstrate WJ Group and HW Martin’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to support the construction of the new high speed rail network, ultimately contributing to a safer and more efficient road network. As the high-speed rail project progresses, the integration of such advanced technologies will continue to play a crucial role in managing the complex demands of this infrastructure project. For more information about WJ Group, please visit: https://www.wj.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

In a major construction operation, Balfour Beatty VINCI on behalf of HS2 has moved a 1,600 tonne steel and concrete bridge into place in Saltley, Birmingham in just five hours. The new Aston Church Road bridge, which is 84 metres long and 21 metres wide, was moved over the existing Birmingham to Derby railway line. It will also sit above the new HS2 tracks as high speed trains travel in and out of Birmingham. The bridge provides an upgraded, safer section of Aston Church Road including cycleways, which connects Saltley, Washwood Heath and Nechells in north-east Birmingham. Starting at 10pm on Saturday 10 August, it took five hours for the team to move the bridge into place, reaching its final position at 3am on Sunday morning. The operation was delivered by Balfour Beatty VINCI and their specialist bridge move contractor Mammoet, during a Network Rail blockade. The railway was handed back to Network Rail five hours earlier than planned. The technique of building the structure on land next to the existing railway and moving it into position in one operation over one weekend, significantly minimises disruption to rail passengers. Heavy lifting engineering experts Mammoet moved the bridge into place using two 128-wheeled self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) across a matting bed put down over the tracks by Pod-Trak to provide a level surface. The new bridge was designed by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra working for Balfour Beatty VINCI. The design incorporates local feedback, with a wide pedestrian walkway creating enough space for cyclists, an LED lighting strategy to enhance safety, and new woodland planting around the bridge. Public feedback resulted in the stainless steel finish being replaced with weathered steel panels incorporating a perforated pattern to maximise light and views, making the bridge feel warmer and improving the pedestrian experience. Dan Binns, Project Manager – Saltley Area for Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “There’s an enormous feeling of pride within the team after safely manoeuvering an 84 metre, 1,600 tonne bridge into place last weekend. “This was a complex operation, made even more challenging because the bridge needed to be driven over four existing network rail lines, requiring years of precise planning and preparation. “We purposely chose to move the bridge on wheels, so it could be built offline first, then moved across in just five hours, greatly reducing the impact on rail passengers.” Steve Powell, HS2’s Head of Delivery said: “This is another great construction milestone for HS2 in the West Midlands, with our teams using the most innovative techniques to deliver feats of engineering safely and efficiently. “It’s also a great example of how the new infrastructure we’re building for HS2 also upgrades the local road network, providing big improvements for local communities.” The composite bridge is made of a concrete deck cast over steel girders with glass reinforced plastic panels used as permanent formwork. One of the UK’s leading concrete frame specialists, MPB delivered the reinforced concrete works. To prepare for the bridge move, a 9,000m2 platform was made and 62 piles constructed to support concrete structures. Around 4,000m3 concrete and 490 tonnes of reinforced steel has been used in the construction operation. The bridge now sits on three structures – an abutment to the West of the existing rail tracks, a pier consisting of two columns on the East of the existing tracks, and an abutment to the East of the pier. In the coming weeks, all the other structures around the bridge, along with the steel assembly of the parapet panels, will be completed. Over the next 14 months, the original Aston Church Road bridge will be demolished to create the extra space for the HS2 line to pass through, and works will get underway to connect the new bridge to the existing road network Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

HS2 have just revealed stunning new timelapse footage showing engineers carefully sliding a 3,700-tonne viaduct deck almost half a kilometre uphill into position near the town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire. The deck of the Wendover Dean Viaduct – which stretches for 450m – was assembled in three stages, ranging from 90m to 180m, with each one pushed out from the north abutment before the next section was attached behind it. This painstaking, eight-month long process meant that the weight of the deck increased with each push, up from an initial 590 tonnes at the start of work in January – to 3,700 tonnes by the time it reached the south abutment on Saturday. It is one of 50 major viaducts on the HS2 project – which is designed to improve connections between London, Birmingham and the North while freeing up space on the most congested southern end of the existing West Coast Main Line. During the slide, special pads covered in Teflon – a material usually found on the surface of a non-stick frying pan – were used to minimise friction between the deck and the temporary steel bearings on top of each of the concrete piers. To help maintain control, the deck – which weighs the same as 264 double-decker buses – was pushed slightly uphill, with the finish point approximately 1.8m higher than the start point. With the steelwork now in position, engineers can begin the challenging job of lowering the deck 60cm onto the permanent bearings which will support the full weight of the structure. The two-month long operation will see the steelwork above each pier carefully lowered by 20cm at a time, pier-by pier, until the whole 450m long deck settles into its final position. HS2 Ltd’s Head of Delivery, Nicola Henderson-Reid said: “The last eight months have been incredible, and I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting us to where we are today. It’s been fascinating to watch the deck slowly inch into position, and we now look forward to the next stage of the project – lowering the deck into final position and completing the complex concrete work that will support the new railway.” Once the deck is in its final position, work can begin on the concrete that will support the railway using a specially designed travelling formwork. Moving slowly from north to south, this stage is expected to take around a year and will be followed by the installation of the parapets along the edge of the viaduct. The Wendover Dean Viaduct is the first major railway bridge in the UK to be built with a ‘double composite’ structure, which uses significantly less carbon-intensive concrete and steel than a more traditional design. Instead of using solid pre-stressed concrete beams to form the spans between the viaduct piers, the hollow ‘double composite’ structure uses two steel beams sandwiched between two layers of reinforced concrete to create a more efficient super strong span.  A similar approach is also being used at Small Dean, Westbury, Lower Thorpe and Turweston, which are all at an earlier stage of construction. All five viaducts are being built by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor, EKFB – a team made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall – with the manufacture and installation of the beams being led by specialists at Eiffage Metal. EKFB’s Senior Project Engineer, James Collings, said: “The final launch for Wendover Dean viaduct marks two years of teamwork from EKFB and our supply chain partners Eiffage Metal. I am very proud of our progress and would like to thank the team for their ongoing commitment to the safe delivery of the viaduct. Over the next three months, we will see the viaduct lowered onto its permanent bearings in preparation for its concrete deck.” The last few months has also seen significant progress at HS2’s other major viaducts, including the key structures that will form the Delta Junction in North Warwickshire and the viaducts taking the railway into Birmingham Curzon Street. In total, HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures – ranging from small road bridges to the record-breaking Colne Valley Viaduct which will become the longest railway bridge in the UK when the deck is finished later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor specialising in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has begun work on the third project awarded to it under the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) highways framework contract. Work has begun on major improvements as part of a planned five-month reconstruction exercise to fully-rebuild Dysart Road in Grantham, Lincolnshire, including the junctions of adjoining side roads. As part of the proposed works, Winvic will enhance multiple assets by excavating and rebuilding the entire road in sections and expects to utilise nearly 8,000 tonnes of material during the project. Construction will include resurfacing and redevelopment of the existing carriageway and pathways. Associated drainage, kerbing and channel repairs will be carried out, and carriageway markings will additionally be refreshed. The project will cover approximately two kilometres, ranging from the signalised pedestrian crossing at the west end of Dysart Road, to just beyond the east end of the A1 bridge. It will also include the supply and implementation of localised traffic management. While works are being carried out, a westbound one-way closure on Dysart Road will be in place to ensure public safety, while full night-time road closures will take place between 7pm to 6am towards the end of the project. The General Works Lot contract is designed to deliver new infrastructure assets and improvements across the County over a four-year period. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure, adds: “We’re delighted to have been awarded our third highways scheme as part of the four-year Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) highways framework. “Our commitment to excellence extends beyond the construction process, and we will be actively engaging with the local community and businesses, promoting public safety, and planting trees to benefit the environment in nearby areas. “We are excited to be delivering these essential upgrades to the area and will persevere to ensure minimal disruption and maximum benefits to local communities and road users.” “The team has been exceeding expectations on the two schemes delivered so far – A16 Marsh Lane, Boston and Newland, Lincoln – and we look forward to building an even stronger relationship with LCC’s team while delivering these transformative infrastructure improvements.” Jared Taylor, Winvic’s Contracts Director, comments: “We are extremely proud that Winvic has been awarded its third Lincolnshire County Council Highways Framework project. “Our commitment to positively impacting the local community is being warmly received, and it’s a pleasure to continue supporting the county through our social value initiatives. “Winvic is dedicated to progressing works quickly and efficiently, minimising disruption while delivering long-lasting infrastructure improvements across Lincolnshire. This success is a testament to our diligent and highly dedicated workforce.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (Formally Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Members of the Bee Network Committee have approved the release of more than £20m to progress with key transport infrastructure projects in Greater Manchester. The latest release of funds – including £10m from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and more than £10m from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund – will go towards a range of projects, each contributing towards the delivery of a high-quality, affordable and fully integrated public transport and walking, wheeling and cycling network. Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner, said: “We are moving quickly to bring about improvements that will make a real difference to how people get around Greater Manchester using public transport or when walking, wheeling or cycling.  “Over the next few years more than £1bn will be invested to make bus and active travel journeys better and to make paying more convenient through ‘tap and go’ ticketing. The scale of ambition is reflected in the drawdown of these funds that support continued delivery of the Bee Network across all ten districts of the city-region.” Integrated ticketing and travel information To ensure people can travel conveniently and seamlessly on Bee Network services, funding of £7.3m was approved to deliver contactless pay-as-you go across bus and Metrolink services. It means customers will be able to pay via a contactless card or device while using Bee Network bus and tram services throughout the day, with the best value fare automatically worked out and capped for them. The funds will also be used to help combat fare evasion, with new devices to check whether passengers have paid via contactless, along with a new feature that will enable passengers to see their journey history in the Bee Network app.     Middleton ‘Streets for All’ The ‘Streets for All’ scheme – that will ensure that high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling connections – is currently being developed for Middleton town centre by Rochdale Council. The scheme, which is still subject to further approvals, supporting the wider Masterplan and its ambition to unlock regeneration around the Market Place, creating new housing and establish of a new cultural quarter. A key feature of the scheme will involve reconfiguring the Market Place roundabout, to include a new public space, better segregated cycling provision around the roundabout and improvements to the underpass to allow sufficient width for shared use between pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists. The Bee Network Committee approved £0.7m to progress the scheme to a final business case and progress with awarding a contract for the Streets for All scheme. Improving journeys – Rochdale – Oldham – Ashton Improving bus routes around Greater Manchester is a Bee Network priority, and a long-term project is already underway to improve the reliability of bus services between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton, along with bettering connections to and from bus stops and the environment along key routes. The route between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton is currently the busiest on the franchised network. Funding for the project, known as Improving journeys – Rochdale – Oldham – Ashton is being released in phases, and the Bee Network Committee has now released £2.1m of CRSTS funding to develop the Rochdale element of the scheme to Full Business Case. Construction of the main scheme in Rochdale is anticipated to commence in Autumn 2025, subject to further approvals. Active travel schemes Walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure is a key component of the Bee Network, enabling people to opt for active modes of travel for shorter journeys through the provision of high-quality, safe and well-connected routes. Funding for four active travel schemes was approved by the Committee, with a total of £10.46m to be released from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund – a programme of work partly funded by CRSTS. The draw down will enable the delivery of almost 5km of Bee Network standard routes, crossings and junction improvements.    Almost £5m (£4.99m) was approved for cycling and walking infrastructure along Seymour Grove in Trafford, part of a wider programme of work that forms Trafford’s A56 North Active Travel Corridor between Stretford and Manchester city centre. The Seymour Grove scheme will provide a series of measures along a 0.5km section of Talbot Road, addressing a missing link in the existing active travel network. The wider scheme will link the cycle route to Trafford Bar Metrolink station, see the addition of Starling Bank Bike hire facilities and support the wider regeneration vision for Stretford. As well as a segregated cycle route, this scheme will provide two fully segregated protected junctions (Chester Road/Stretford Road/Talbot Road and Seymour Grove/Talbot Road) and will enable future development of an active travel route running south along Seymour Grove, connecting to the Chorlton Cycleway. The committee also approved £2.17m to build a new cycleway in Leigh, along on the A572 St Helens Road from the Bridgewater Canal to Bonnywell Road. This route will also improve the route from Leigh to Leigh Sports Village and Pennington Flash. In addition, £1.99m of MCF funding will be released to develop a traffic-free active travel route from Wigan town centre to Standish, bypassing the busy A49, and £1.31m to extend the Whelley Loop Line, and build an accessible ramp up to Hall Lane, improving access to Haigh Hall. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Average speeds at peak times drop by nearly a half in the morning rush hour between Hinckley and Tamworth, according to new research by transport body Midlands. Analysis shows the route drops 44% in average speeds in the AM peak, between 6 am and 10 am compared to off-peak journey times.  The average speed on the route is 48 miles per hour, dropping to around 32 MPH during peak periods. In some locations, it can dip down as low as 10 miles per hour. There were 180 road traffic incidents on this section of the A5 from 2017 to 2021, with 45 in 2019 and one in five of these (20%) resulting in ‘serious’ injuries to one or more people. The corridor is one of the Midlands’ most important east-west connections and is at the heart of the “Logistics golden triangle” bounded by the M1, M6 and M69. This is an area of the country from which drivers can reach 90% of the population within four hours, a very important location for logistics firms. Integrated Transport Programme Lead, Swati Mittal said: “The A5 corridor is home to a million people, sitting at the heart of the so-called Logistics Golden Triangle and supporting major employment sites such as Magna Park and MIRA. Anything we can do to upgrade the route is vital for residents, commuters and businesses in the area. “With improvements, Midlands Connect believes the route has the potential to provide an alternative route to our congested motorways and support significant housing and employment growth.” Sarah Edwards, Member of Parliament for Tamworth said: “Fixing our roads is a priority and plays a major part in our economic productivity and development. We must get our road networks fit for purpose. “The A5 plays a crucial role for commuters across the West Midlands, my constituents in Tamworth included, and it is important that appropriate funding and support is made available to ensure it can keep delivering for residents. I have written to the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure investment in road infrastructure supports our constituency and its prospects for growth.” Bill Cullen CEO of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and chair of the executive of the A5 Partnership said: “What these findings demonstrate is that the A5 continues to be a significant route through the Midlands, but we must unlock the blockages with key road investment in priority areas of the corridor to ensure it continues to support economic growth and remains fit for purpose.” Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for strategic highways Mark Deaville said: “Improved connectivity is a priority to the county council and the A5 corridor is a key east/west route in the south. The M42 junction is particularly busy and congested at peak times which we hope can be addressed. As a centre for the logistics sector, especially with the development of the West Midlands Interchange, we need effective and efficient transport routes to help grow our economy. This route also supports our visitor economy, particularly with attractions like Drayton Manor Park and the National Memorial Arboretum. We wholeheartedly support any moves to upgrade the corridor and remove obstacles to growth.” Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “While the A5 is managed and maintained by National Highways, we fully support the work being done to secure improvements. “As the highway authority, we know problems such as bridge strikes, congestion and accidents are having a detrimental impact for our residents throughout Hinckley as well as the villages in the south of the county.  The A5 isn’t functioning, and we share the views of partners who are calling for improvements to be prioritised and additional funding made available. “Securing and delivering improvements on the A5 also resonates with the core themes of our draft new Local Transport Plan, which include supporting growth and boosting the local economy, improving people’s health and reducing the impacts of traffic on our communities. The urgent need is there to improve the road.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals