Princes Street to close for seven months - 25-04-2008 - 11:03
Work on tram lines in Edinburgh is to force the closure of one its most famous streets for seven months.
Trams are to be reintroduced to Princes Street and taxis, buses and bikes will be banned from using the street from January next year.
Willie Gallagher, executive chairman of Tie, the company responsible for the trams, said: "We are on the cusp of delivering what we have promised - a world-class public transport system in our capital. We have struck the correct balance between price, programme, quality of the finished product and certainty of cost in agreeing this programme."
He added that the utility diversion work continues to progress "to programme and to budget".
The project will cost around £508 million, according to the company, which is within the budget of £545 million.
It is hoped the construction work will be completed by January 2011.
Tie was formed in 2002 with the purpose of delivering major transport projects to Edinburgh.
Liverpool Street station to close again - 16-04-2008 - 12:03
Liverpool Street Station is to close over the May Bank Holiday period for engineering work – the third holiday in a row it has been shut for.
Over last Christmas and Easter work was not completed on time, resulting in problems for commuters who were returning home following the holidays.
Brian Cooke, chairman of London TravelWatch, told the Evening Standard: "Passengers know that engineering work has to be done - and extending the ELL will prove huge benefit for London - but work must be finished on time."
The station will be shut on May 4th and May 5th but the railway authorities are hopeful it will be open again on the 6th, as people head back to work.
Closures have been scheduled for the holidays in order for workers to install an 800-tonne bridge, as part of plans to extend the east London line.
London TravelWatch is the official watchdog organisation which represents the interest of transport users in and around London.
Canal set to be completed with a month - 16-04-2008 - 12:02
The first new canal to be built in the UK for over a century is set to be completed within a month.
British Waterways has said that the engineers are now laying slabs of reinforced concrete on the base and sides of the canal in order to make it watertight.
Richard Longton, project manager of British Waterways, said: "The canal structure will be completed in the next three or four weeks. The channels have all been dug. We're now laying a concrete base and two concrete walls."
He added that if the project was going through a rural setting it would be possible to just excavate a channel but as it is going through an urban environment, "it has to be water retaining to protect the buildings".
Once the structure of the canal is completed, construction work will then shift to the more public aspects of the project such as benches and towpaths.
British Waterways is a public corporation and manages more than 2,200 miles of canals and rivers.
Construction work going ahead on Corby links - 03-04-2008 - 17:14
Construction work is progressing on a transport link which will connect the town of Corby with London.
It is hoped that the first phase of the plans, which includes a bus interchange and a new access road, will be completed by summer, reports the Evening Telegraph.
Deputy chief executive of North Northamptonshire Development Corporation Simon Evans told the newspaper: "The first phase will be for the infrastructure works and we are on course to have everything ready for December.
"We will then move on to building a suspension bridge across the track and constructing the Corby Walk which will link the station with the town centre."
He added that the corporation is also about to start talks with English Partnerships to "talk about the mix of the surrounding business park".
After the first phase of construction is complete, Network Rail with then be brought in to build the train station and signal works.
Network Rail runs and develops the UK's tracks, signalling system and 18 key stations as well as other components of the railway infrastructure.
Summer start for bypass scheme - 02-04-2008 - 14:22
Construction work on a village bypass scheme in Walton is to start in the summer, it has been revealed.
A new road and bridge will be built in order to relieve congestion in Walton which has 8,000 vehicles passing through its centre every 24 hours currently.
Chris Chatfield, estates manager at Roger Bullivant, the firm behind the plans, said: "We are keen to ensure that the local community is aware of the construction programme for the bridge, as we are aiming to start on site this summer."
He added that the firm created a Walton bypass liaison group in November in order to ensure that any construction issues can be "mitigated in advance".
There has been criticism aimed at the plans, with some villagers expressing their concerns over the environment, traffic levels and a risk of flooding in the area.
Roger Bullivant was established in 1971 and claims to be the largest foundation engineering company in the UK.
Construction begins on Northumberland roundabout - 28-03-2008 - 10:59
Construction work has begun on a £3.6 million roundabout at Haltwhistle, in Northumberland.
The roundabout is expected to improve access to development land in the area and better the chances of more construction work in the future.
Councillor Michael Walton, leader of Tynedale council, told the Cumberland News: "It has been a long time to get to this stage, given the difficulties of the scale of the project – but well worth it."
He added that the council is pleased to help the town of Haltwhistle with a project that will attract new jobs to the town and "secure existing employment".
It is thought that the construction work will take around nine months to be completed and it is hoped it will help attract more business to the nearby Hadrian Business Park.
Haltwhistle is in Tynedale district council, which is part of Northumberland county council, both of which are funding the plans.
Network Rail hails success of checkpoint system - 27-03-2008 - 11:48
Network Rail has announced that its system of military style checkpoints on engineering work was the reason why work on the railways over Easter was completed successfully.
The initiative was introduced after overruns on work over the new year resulted in network Rail being fined a record amount by the government.
A Network Rail spokesman said: "Obviously we learned our lesson and, following the overruns at Christmas, we pulled our plans apart to make sure we could deliver what we had to over Easter."
He added that the company ensured that it had the resources needed to carry out the job and "did not carry out as much work".
The checkpoints, which linked the engineers with the operating companies, will now be used on all engineering work carried out by Network Rail.
Network Rail was established in 2002 and aims to provide a safe, efficient and reliable railway for the UK.
MSP questions rail link construction delay - 27-03-2008 - 11:47
A member of the Scottish parliament has voiced concerns over the construction and engineering plans for a new rail link between Edinburgh and the Borders.
Design work is set to get underway this year with construction starting in 2011 but Jeremy Purvis, a Liberal Democrat, has called for answers for the delay between the two phases.
Mr Purvis said: "The SNP are planning a gaping three-year delay to the project, with the construction phase of the project not expected to start until 2011, despite the target date of the design stage being later this year."
He added that banks are "queuing up to lend money" to build the project so "why do Borders have to wait another three years for the rail link construction to begin?"
According to Mr Purvis construction work was originally due to start on the project in 2009.
In related news, plans have been revealed to bring trains to one of the most remote towns in Scotland Grantown-on-Sprey. Network Rail has offered a steel bridge free of charge as part of the plans.
Metro redevelopment plans unveiled - 20-03-2008 - 13:07
Plans have been unveiled for the redevelopment of North Shields Metro station which would cost around £5 million.
Construction work would start in 2010 in the proposals which include the redevelopment of passenger waiting areas and platforms.
Bernard Garner, director general of Nexus, the company putting forward the proposals, told News Guardian: "The plans for Metro Re-invigoration contain some exciting developments for the Metro network on North Tyneside, not least the proposed transformation of North Shields station and the installation of new ticket machines and electronic barriers."
He added that the necessary funding is already in place for the ticket machines and barriers and "positive discussions" are ongoing with ministers and civil servants about the "next phase".
The plans are part of a £600 million scheme to redevelop the entire system.
Construction work has already begun on a new 300–space car park at the Northumberland Park Metro Station.
Nexus provides, plans and promotes public transport in the area of Tyne and Wear.
Railway engineering work to go ahead over Easter - 17-03-2008 - 12:58
Engineering work over Easter is set to cause chaos on the railways as services are cancelled and delayed.
In London, Euston station will be closed from Saturday to Monday to Virgin West Coast trains and Clapham Junction will also be affected by plans to renew track in the area, reports the Mirror.
Network Rail has advised its passengers to "check before travelling" to see if they will be affected by the engineering work.
Work at Liverpool Street is also expected to affect services of National Express East Anglia.
The consumer group Passenger Focus has said that Network Rail must "keep its promises and complete work on schedule".
Earlier in the year Network Rail was fined a record £14 million for delays caused by engineering works not being finished on time over the new year.
Network Rail has announced on its website that the engineering work will deliver improvements for passengers around the UK and a high-profile information campaign will be run in order to make the public aware of the proposals.
Norfolk construction company awarded rail contract - 29-02-2008 - 10:44
May Gurney, the construction firm, has been awarded a rail improvement contract which could be worth up to £100 million.
The company, which is based in Trowse, will be using its construction workers to repair, remodel and refurbish various train stations across London and the north-east.
David Sterry, chief executive of May Gurney, said the company is "delighted" to have been given the contract by Network Rail.
"The property maintenance framework demonstrates our success at developing strong long-term customer relationships and the importance of our ability to deliver truly integrated services," he added.
It is estimated that the contract is worth around £20 million a year and is a two-year contract. However there is an option of a three-year extension.
May Gurney currently employs around 1,000 people in Norfolk.
Network Rail was yesterday given a record fine of £14 million for the New Year rail chaos.
Network rail given record fine - 28-02-2008 - 10:52
Network Rail has been handed a record £14 million after hundreds of thousands of rail passengers were affected by the railway chaos caused by engineering work over the new year.
The fine is the biggest Network Rail has been given since 2006, when it was told to pay £2.4 million for engineering works in Portsmouth overrunning.
Bill Emery, rail regulator, said: "It is quite clear from our thorough investigation that Network Rail is failing to manage major engineering work consistently well as it should."
He added that this is due particularly to the weaknesses in the company's site management, risk assessment and planning of projects as well as "failures of communication within the company and with train operators".
The fine has been criticised by Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat transport spokesman who claimed that directors should have been penalised through their bonuses.
Network Rail runs, maintains and develops Britain's tracks, rail bridges, tunnels, level crossings, via duct and 18 stations.
Translink announces Newry train station redevelopment - 11-02-2008 - 14:03
Translink, the Northern Ireland transport operator, has announced a new £12.6 million investment in the Newry railway station.
The money will be used for an upgrade of the station as well as a new road link and a park and ride service with 300 spaces.
Clive Bradberry, infrastructure executive for Translink, said: "This is great news for the local community in Newry and in particular the quarter of a million passengers Newry station currently serves annually"
He added that this project demonstrates the commitment of the company to "ongoing modernisation and upgrade of our services".
The work is scheduled to start this month and developers hope that it is finished by late 2009.
Local company Felix O'Hare has been awarded the contract for the construction work on the station and Fox Building Engineering has been awarded the new road access project.
Felix O'Hare has been established for over 100 years and is involved in a range of public and private sector projects.
Rail engineers were paid £1,000 a day - 24-01-2008 - 10:38
Engineers who worked on the railways over New Year in the Rugby area were paid more than £1,000 a day.
This was according to Network Rail and Betchel, the two companies responsible for the railway maintenance in the area, which were being grilled by MPs over the rail chaos over the Christmas and New Year period.
Railway engineers who were qualified to work on overhead lines were brought in for the work from recruitment firms by Jarvis, another contractor appointed to the railway work.
In the internal enquiry over the chaos, caused in part by up to half of the Jarvis specialist team of engineers not showing up to work, it has been revealed that there was not a penalty clause in its contract.
Jarvis is a support services company based in York which has over 4,500 employees across the UK. In 2005 it deployed its Accutrack technology.
Construction to begin on new £8 million road - 15-01-2008 - 10:06
Morrison Construction will begin work on upgrading the A7 near Langholm this week as the £8 million project gets underway.
Two miles of offline carriageway will replace the winding road which is currently found on the west bank of the River Esk which is near Auchenrivok.
Stewart Leask, the project manager, told News and Star: "We are pleased to get these vital improvements to a key route in Dumfries and Galloway underway. As the scheme is mainly being constructed off line, this means only limited disruption on the existing roads."
The MSP for Dumfries, Elaine Murray, also welcomed the plans saying the road is a dangerous stretch of the A7 and local people have been campaigning "for years to have it upgraded".
Morrison Construction is a plc with an annual turnover of £700 million. It serves clients in the utility sectors of gas, water, electricity and telecommunications. It also provides repair and maintenance to local authorities.
New Wrexham link road to be given go-ahead - 07-01-2008 - 09:51
A new £20 million link road in Wrexham is set to be given the green light today, and construction jobs could be created as a result.
The plans will see construction work start in April 2009 if they are given the go ahead at a council meeting today.
Wrexham council leader Aled Roberts told the Daily Post: "The whole scheme is carried by the transport grant. We have put £400,000 in to keep to the timetable. If the plans are accepted then we are ready to go. We are still nervous about the funding."
He added that although the council really needs to "keep up the pressure" as the link road scheme is "vital".
The road will link the Wrexham Industrial Estate to a dual carriageway in a bid to increase interest in the park from other businesses.
Wrexham Industrial Estate is one of the largest industrial estates in Europe and has over 300 businesses there.
Calls for new road in Lowestoft - 02-01-2008 - 13:44
Suffolk county council is looking to build a new link road in Lowestoft and if the plans go ahead it could lead to the creation of construction jobs in the area.
The 1.5 mile long road would link the A1117 to the A12 and create a new route through the town, which has a high volume of traffic, reports the Lowestoft Journal.
Guy McGregor, Suffolk county council's portfolio holder for roads and transport, has hit back at suggestions by Waveney MP Bob Blizzard that a third bridge in the town should be built instead.
"Bob Blizzard may have long-term ambitions for a third crossing, but the road is something we can deliver which I believe will have a big impact on improving traffic through Lowestoft," said Mr McGregor.
He added that if Mr Blizzard wants a third crossing then it is fine by him but "it must be for him to persuade the government that this is an important issue".
Meanwhile the north Tyneside Mayor, John Harrison, is producing a report that will call for the A1 to the north to be widening.
East Midland Parkway construction to get underway - 19-12-2007 - 10:08
Construction is set to begin on a new £25.5 million railway station for East Midlands Airport this week.
The station, called East Midlands Parkway, will be built near junction 24 off the M1 and will include four platforms, 850 car parking spaces, a station building and a ticket office.
East Midlands Trains managing director, Tim Shoveller, told Transport Briefing: "We're really pleased that building of the station is now underway. When it opens next year, East Midlands Parkway will be an example of a high quality, accessible station and we're eager to play our part in delivering a first class station and service for our passengers."
He added that the company is hoping that more people will be persuaded to "leave the car behind and take the train".
The principal contractor for the project is Birse.
Birse is a group of companies that specialises in civil and process engineering. The majority of the group became part of the Balfour Beatty Group's civil engineering portfolio in 2004.
Crossrail link approved by Commons - 18-12-2007 - 12:04
Construction of the £15.9 billion London Crossrail link has been approved by the House of Commons.
The project will provide links between the Thames Gateway, the City, Docklands, Heathrow Airport and the West End.
Tom Harris, transport minister said: "Crossrail will significantly increase the capacity of the rail network into and across London. It is expected to add 21 per cent rail capacity to the City and 54 per cent to the Isle of Dogs, relieving congestion and overcrowding on the national rail and London Underground networks."
There has been three years of debate over the scheme after objections were raised by action groups in the East End, where most of the construction work is being planned.
Every hour 24 trains will run on the Crossrail link at peak times, with one every five minutes going in either direction.
The bills third reading passed without a vote and will go to the House of Lords for approval.
New highway planned for Somerset - 03-12-2007 - 14:51
Somerset county council will exhibit its plans for a new highway this week, giving hope of new construction jobs in the area.
The scheme is designed to relieve congestion in Taunton town centre with a new north-south route across the town, reports the Somerset County Gazette.
Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey said: "This is an exciting project which, alongside other major new schemes such as the new park and ride, will alleviate congestion in Taunton and improve the environment of the town centre for shoppers, residents and businesses."
Planning permission will be granted next month if the council receives enough backing for the idea, which is called Third Way.
Two bridges and a road will be constructed as part of the Third Way scheme. Construction work would start in 2009.
Meanwhile, thousands of construction jobs will be created in London after prime minister Gordon Brown announced that a National Skills Academy for Construction will be introduced on the Olympics 2012 site.
