Infrastructure construction paving the way for post-pandemic connections

As the coronavirus vaccines start to roll out across the country, it’s heartening to know that infrastructure construction projects are going ahead which will help make our, soon to be regained freedom, more enjoyable, easier to travel through, and more connected.

With an optimistic view to the future, here we look at some of the bigger infrastructure construction projects - outside of HS2 - due to start construction this year, that will help us all get connected again.

Oxford Street District Place Shaping

Westminster City Council's plan for the £225 million Oxford Street District Place Shaping project (Project ID: 18341481) aims to make a significant improvement to the district and ensure it retains its world class status.

The project will enhance the area's heritage and historic neighbourhoods for a vibrant and thriving community, and will rapidly adapt to an evolving retail environment by enabling amazing experiences, cater for more visitors expected when the Elizabeth Line opens, reduce congestion, improve air quality and provide better cycling routes and create beautiful and green public spaces.

The contract will be managed over 18 individual phases and is due to start in May this year and is scheduled to complete in 25 months.

Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension

The £450 million Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension (Project ID: 3181631) forms part of Transport for West Midlands’ (TfWM) plan to regenerate public transport in the region.

Due to open in 2025, the new 11km 17-stop, 5 provisional stop-line will extend the already successful Metro service further into the heart of the Black Country, providing convenient interchanges with local bus and rail services.

It is hoped that the new line will act as a trigger for 2,000 new homes, almost one million sq ft of commercial space and the creation of over 30,000 new jobs in the area.

The project is due to start on-site next month and will be completed in February 2025.

Belfast Transport Hub

The new Belfast Transport Hub development (Project ID:14249512) for Translink is set to replace the Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street train station complex and will include a public area concourse, 26 bus stands, eight railway platforms and a new public square.

The £208 million project is designed to enhance connectivity, offering a high quality integrated transport hub for bus, coach and rail links, and “...will be a key driver of social, economic and environmental wellbeing for Belfast and Northern Ireland and will be at the heart of an exciting new city neighbourhood called ‘Weavers Cross’ with imaginative mixed-use development proposals," Translink said.

The project is due to start in August, with Graham as the main contractor, and is expected to be completed in July 2023.

Lake Lothing, third bridge crossing

The Lake Lothing, third bridge crossing in Lowestoft, Suffolk (Project ID: 17077584) began enabling works last week, and is due to start construction in April. The £126,750 million project has been eagerly awaited by both Lowestoft residents and businesses, as it will provide a much needed third crossing of Lake Lothing, which divides south and north Lowestoft.

The scheme, which is deemed a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, comprises a 35m span rolling bascule central section that opens to allow port shipping to pass, a new rail bridge on the northside over the existing East Suffolk line and a new road bridge (underpass) on the south side. A new footway on both sides will also be provided.

The project is due to start construction in April this year and is due to complete in April 2023.

Dualling of the A465 Howlais to Dowlais Top Sections 5 & 6, Wales

The £513,650 million Section 5 (Dowlais to A470) and Section 6 (A470 to Hirwain) (Project ID: 00403301) are the easternmost sections of the A465 Heads of the Valleys Dualling project and are being delivered as a single 17km long scheme.

According to the Welsh Government the scheme is “critical to the social and economic regeneration of the Heads of the Valleys area. It will improve access to key services, jobs and markets supporting inward investment to areas such as the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone.”

The scheme will include terminal roundabouts, junction improvements and bridges and associated landscaping, kerbing and white lining.

Site clearance starts this week, with major construction beginning in the Spring. The project is expected to be completed in September 2024.

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PR contact:
Rick Stephens (Content Marketing Lead)
T: 01202 786 859 │ E: rick.stephens@glenigan-old.thrv.uk