Birmingham Metro

Project Value

£6m+

Client Name

Amey PLC

Project Type

Clean Water

CPC have been working on the metro scheme since 2012 and are still a major part of its infrastructure and civils operations on site today

Summary

We have just entered the 6th year on this contract and all three phases of this work have been challenging in different ways but due to the length of time with the same team of people and continuity of work, valuable lessons have been learned as the work progresses, the understanding and trust between all parties has galvanised in time.

CPC are looking forward to working with STW and Centro on future schemes in Birmingham such as HS2, Eastside Extension and the Birmingham Airport Extension.

Phase 1

Value £1,300,000

CPC were invited to tender for work on the Midland Metro as part of the Centro Tram extension from Snow Hill Station to New St Station in Birmingham.

The work started on 6th August 2012 and involved the replacement of all cast iron mains that would either run closely parallel to, or cross under the new track. Where mains could not be remodelled to take them from under the track, each crossing was renewed in size for size MDPE and “dual fed” with accessible control valves either side of the tram track. This was to enable each crossing to be isolated to one side and flow maintained with the other so repair or maintenance could be carried out without major disruption to Tram services.

The mains were various sizes ranging from 50mm service crossings to 355mm mains running the whole length of Bull St and Corporation St, one of the busiest shopping areas in Birmingham. There was approx. 21 dual crossings and therefore up to 42 connections to complete, some of which were challenging to say the least. Almost all of these connections were completed out of hours in order to keep some very high profile businesses running as normal such as House of Fraser and Waitrose, not to mention the private apartments along the route.

Together with the Centro team we were involved in close liaison with all the stakeholders day and night and no major supply interruptions were logged throughout the work which was completed on time.

Phase 2

Value £1,890,000

CPC were awarded Phase 2 by invitation with agreed schedule of rates from phase 1 brought forward.

The work started 9th February 2014

This phase was from New St Station to Broad St and in some ways was more challenging than phase 1 despite less stakeholder interface. Again this was the replacement of parallel and crossing mains of sizes 50mm to 250mm.

All 16 connections on the first half of this phase were completed out of hours and a team effort multi-lay operation was put in place using traditional open cut and vacuum excavators with Centro/National Grid/NMC and WPD.

The route took us through New St and Victoria Square which is high in pedestrian use day and night. Focus was on members of public safety at all times with marshalling and forward planning for access egress in and around the shopping, eating areas.

The second half of this phase took us on to Broad St and the laying of twin 600mm mains along bus lanes and outside some of the most visited areas in the City, Centenary Square, ICC, New Library building and within 3 feet of the Boulton, Watt and Murdoch (Gold Statue).

Despite the complicated network in this area and some unchartered mains the work was carried out without any major supply interruptions and on time.

Phase 3

Value £2,620,000

CPC were again awarded this phase by invitation with the agreed schedule of rates following on through phases 1 and 2.

The work started on 24th October 2016 and at the time of writing is 85% complete.

This phase is in essence a substantial diversion of the existing 22” and 17” cast iron mains that run the full length (approx. 800m) of Broad St in Birmingham.

This street is well known for the night life of the City and the new tram line will run straight down the centre of it. Because of the size of the existing mains and the location of every other utility, it was not possible to relay these mains outside the proposed track line. The solution was to relay a twin 600mm and 450mm Ductile iron main off line and around busy back streets for 1.2km, with the view to abandoning the existing main in its entirety.

The sizes of these mains and the trench needed to lay them in itself posed some difficulties, all of which have been overcome with careful planning, good route proving and again close liaison with some key stakeholders when crossing their access roads such as The Hyatt Hotel, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Fiveways Property Management.

Client Testimonials

“We have formed not only fantastic working relationships but also lasting friendships. I would not hesitate in working with CPC Civils again, as they are without question the most helpful, skilful and friendly partner you could wish for, and I look forward to developing this already fruitful relationship further in the coming years.”

“Well done Wayne Barron, John Donnellan, Pat Concannon, Conall Cunningham and the CPC team. We had a phone call from Paul Dennison (Severn Trent Water), he and his colleagues are very complimentary of the work at Kingsholm. They praised the tidiness, the setup, the workforce attitude and the standard of workmanship completed at the site ”

“I could sit and write multiple examples where CPC and your team have, in my opinion, gone above and beyond what would normally be expected. I would however just like to say that this ongoing attitude, and excellent working relationship, has not only aided Centro in 2 current Metro extensions it has also given me huge confidence in the planning of 5 further Metro extensions. It’s also made my job very enjoyable”

“Interesting weekend replacing a 12m length of sewer that had collapsed underneath a railway line in Bloxwich. Within 48 hours the team were able to diagnose the problem and work up a design and complete the repair. Amazing collaboration between STW, Amey, CPC and Network Rail”

Carillion have been impressed by the high safety, quality and overall standards of your on-site Supervision, quality of workmanship and the ability to complete the works in line with the agreed programme.  It has been a pleasure working with the team from CPC Civils on the Lower Don Valley Flood Defence Project and we welcome working with them once more on future successful projects

“Just a quick note to say thanks for taking the time to show us round last Thursday – I was very impressed by the way that work at the site was being managed, so please pass my congratulations on to the CPC team”

“A big thank you to the CPC team regarding the Achilles Audit undertaken on site – keep up the good work!”

“First and foremost, thanks to CPC for all the help and advice over the past 12 months. To each and every tradesman, your engineer, steelworkers, shuttering team, stone masons etc, a big thank you. At the risk of embarrassing anyone, we found everyone polite and obliging”

“I would like to thank all those who have worked on this project, especially the men who have been on site every day. In the 8 months of the work we have been kept fully informed at all times of the progress and all those concerned with the work have gone out of their way to be courteous and helpful.”

“Thanks to the installation teams from JP Concrete and CPC Civils  for a safe and excellent quality installation, very good job.”

“I am pleased to tell you that I have been asked by the Project Board to express their appreciation for the way you and your subcontractors have undertaken the District Heating Main Extension contract to date. We appreciate the professional manner in which you have proceeded with the planning and construction of the project despite the uncertain caused by delays in funding approval and agreements with landowners. The Board consider that your working methods, attention to detail, project management and health & saftey are excellent.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful opportunity that you provided my students with last week. The effort, time and organisation that went into planning the visit is much appreciated. The resources you have given us are superb and will allow the students to really develop their understanding of flood management in their local area.”

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