To keep you updated on the latest notable achievements and advancements in various sectors, we have curated a compilation of significant news from August.
This includes a £2.7m rail safety centre opening in Huddersfield, Network Rail completing a multi-million Glasgow rail bridge refurbishment and the green light for the £250m A38 Derby roundabouts scheme.
Rail | £2.7m rail safety centre has opened in Huddersfield as part of the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade.
A brand new £2.7 million rail safety centre has opened in Huddersfield, a part of the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade.
Rail workers will be able to experience simulations of real-life scenarios at the Transpennine Route Upgrade Safety (TRUST) Centre. The centre will include actors staging immersive emergencies. This approach to the centre will allow participants of the centre to witness an incident in real-time, encounter decisions that can lead to fatal situations and evaluate how they can stop it from happening in the future.
Huw Merriman, Rail Minister, commented on the centre; "This is a major milestone for the Transpennine Route Upgrade. Not only is the programme creating greener and more reliable services across the North, but it's now taking vital steps to create a well-trained and highly skilled workforce.
"Safety remains at the heart of our railways and this centre will ensure it's in the mind of every member of staff working on the project too."
Construction | BAM wins £11m Forest of Dean leisure hub
BAM Construction has been appointed by the Forest of Dean District Council to develop and build a new leisure, enterprise and education hub, based at Five Acres in Gloucestershire.
Construction will be completed through various stages. The first phase will centre on constructing a modern, versatile sports hall with four courts and a dedicated area for performances. The current Speedwell building will transform house sports and leisure amenities.
Forest of Dean District Council, in collaboration with design consultants Pick Everard and BAM, will jointly develop the ultimate design blueprints for the Five Acres project. This will be followed by the submission of a planning application, paving the way for the commencement of construction.
Construction Director at BAM, Justin Price, commented on the leisure hub; "We are committed to working with local businesses wherever possible and we can’t wait to work with partners and the community to develop these incredible facilities for the residents of the Forest of Dean."
Read more here
Water | BAM, Kier and Stantec to deliver Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works Upgrade
The ECI (Early Contractor Involvement) agreement for the upgrade of Belfast's Wastewater Treatment Works has been granted to an integrated team consisting of Kier-Bam (civil contracting), Stantec (civil engineering design consultancy), and MWH Treatment (process contracting).
NI Water's CEO, Sara Venning, commented; "These industry experts, who have many years’ experience in the water sector worldwide, will work collaboratively under an ECI contract with NI Water and our local project management consultants, McAdam Design, as ‘one team’ to develop a sustainable and robust solution that will ensure the works can help support a growing economy for decades to come.
Following the successful completion of the important ECI phase in 2024, it is intended that the Phase One construction will get underway, subject to planning.”
The initial phase will comprise of a six-year project schedule, integral to the Living with Water in Belfast Plan. This comes after the conclusion of Phase 0, which involved an interim upgrade and saw the establishment of two new treatment tanks, collectively holding a volume comparable to that of six Olympic-size swimming pools.
Read more here
Rail | Network Rail complete multi-million Glasgow rail bridge refurbishment
A rail bridge located at Glasgow Cross, which underwent a multi-million-pound renovation, has been completed ahead of the projected timeline.
The refurbishment project, costing £3.8 million, was executed by Network Rail in collaboration with the main contractor STORY Contracting. This initiative involved revitalising the rail bridge that stretches across the A8 at Saltmarket near Glasgow Cross.
Starting in August 2022, the dedicated team worked for a total of 20,000 hours to mend and enhance the bridge. They integrated numerous tons of steel components to reinforce and restore the structure before applying a fresh coat of paint.
While the bridge doesn't cater to passenger trains, it holds significant importance as a pathway for ScotRail trains en route to the Southside depot. It serves as an alternate route for freight traffic diversions.
Read more here
Civil Engineering | Plans go in for a trio of Bankside towers
Foster + Partners has submitted architectural designs for a set of three mixed-use towers positioned at the southern terminus of Blackfriars Bridge in London, as part of a planning application.
Hines, the developer, is aiming to construct a trio of buildings, including two residential towers measuring 40 and 22 stories, alongside an office edifice that will ascend to 45 stories and stand at an impressive height of nearly 200 meters.
Distinguished among these is the 18 Blackfriars Road office tower, which pledges to introduce an innovative architectural approach deviating from the conventional design of flat-topped office structures.
Senior Managing Director and Country Head of Hines UK, Ross Blair, said; "We’ve been working hard with our architects, the local community and other key stakeholders to bring this land, which has been undeveloped for 20 years, back to life.
“Occupiers are demanding more from their spaces to attract and retain the best people, the lines have blurred between workspace, wellness and leisure, and our design truly responds to these needs, offering an inspirational mix of spaces that foster collaboration."
Read more here
Water | Thames Water starts £16 million Haydon End, Swindon pipe replacement
A £16 million project has been initiated by Thames Water with the aim of minimising pipe bursts in Swindon's Haydon End area.
The focus of this endeavour is the comprehensive replacement of the 3-kilometre Haydon End Rising Main. This replacement will be carried out along an entirely new path, strategically designed to fortify the network's resilience for the generations to come.
The project will be spread across several excavation sites and is projected to reach completion by July 2024. As a result of the construction, the cycle path designated as Route 45 will be temporarily closed from mid-August, and alternative routes will be established to accommodate diversions.
Highways | Green light for £250m A38 Derby roundabouts scheme
National Highways has secured approval for their proposals aimed at alleviating congestion at three traffic bottlenecks situated along the A38 in Derby.
The construction company BAM still awaits the green signal to commence the £250 million project, which encompasses significant enhancements to the roundabouts at Kingsway, Markeaton, and Little Eaton.
The preliminary consent for National Highways' plans was originally granted in January 2021.
National Highways Regional Delivery Director Anita Prashar said: “We are delighted with today’s announcement which means we have successfully achieved a major milestone on the project to improve the A38 round Derby for the thousands of people who use the route each day.
“While we still need to get final approval to start construction, we will begin to remobilise and reprogramme the project, which could take a minimum of 12 months. “
Read more here
HSQ Recruitment is driven by a deep passion for the industries we cater to, where we have the privilege of witnessing revolutionary projects, state-of-the-art technologies, and transformative advancements that shape the industry's future, month after month. In August, we invite you to join us as we delve into the latest and most pioneering innovations, projects, and transformations currently taking place. Together, let's explore the forefront of industry progress.