Andrew Heaton’s Post

WSP has been awarded the design contract for the $200 million Henry Lawson Drive Section 1B upgrade project in south-western Sydney. Transport for NSW announced the successful tender for detailed design works, which aim to enhance traffic flow, reduce travel times, and improve connectivity to Bankstown Airport. The project will include the addition of two lanes in each direction, boosting the efficiency of the corridor. #road #upgrade #design #NSW

#RatesEquity solved another barrier to more homes being built in Australua. Rates Equity means all property owners pay the same rates regardless of zoning or property use. No targeted rates or developer contribution costs. Just a single annual rate of between 1.0%-2.0% of property value for all properties with limited rebates for elderly low income homeowners/social housing and penalty rates for vacant properties. Rates Equity lowers the cost of building new homes considerably and also lowers rates for productive small businesses. The current system of low residential rates and property taxes pushes house prices higher. It also favours rental property investors over productive businesses.

Did you know the Sydney Harbour Zone includes over 1,000 km of state roads, 9 million square metres of asphalt, 1,700 traffic lights, 268 bridges, and hundreds of school safety zones? This vital network stretches from Sydney’s coastline to Galston in the north, Strathfield in the west, and Milperra in the south—connecting millions of people and places every day. In partnership with Transport for NSW, we are entrusted with the management of the Harbour Zone. As a joint venture between Boral, Service Stream, and Johnson Controls, we deliver essential road corridor services to this bustling zone. From pothole repairs to intelligent traffic systems, bridge maintenance, and green space upkeep, our team works year-round to keep Sydney moving. Highlights of our work • Canterbury Road Improvement Project: Delivered extensive pavement reconstruction across 7,116 square metres of concrete slab replacement and 3,052 square metres of asphalt works, ensuring safer journeys for Sydney commuters. • Spit Bridge Maintenance: One of Australia’s few remaining lift bridges, The Spit Bridge is critical to 75,000 vehicles and 35,000 bus passengers daily. Our team operates and monitors this iconic structure 24/7, ensuring smooth passage for both road users and vessels navigating Middle Harbour. Our work doesn’t just maintain infrastructure—it impacts the lives of residents, workers, and visitors by improving safety, reducing congestion, and creating a more resilient transport network. By embracing innovation and collaboration, we’re helping to shape a smarter, more sustainable Sydney. At ConnectSydney, we’re proud to deliver on our mission: Connecting People and Places. #Infrastructure #Innovation #ConnectingPeopleAndPlaces

The Year of the Bridge -- 2024 Interesting read focusing on signature bridges. However, almost 90% of bridges have spans of 100 feet or less, the very type Valmont Structures helps to build. From Construction Briefing: https://lnkd.in/eDapmE99. #Bridges #Infrastructure #ValmontStructures #ConstructionBriefing

Team selected to design new toll-free, eight-lane Massey tunnel The next stage of design for the new toll-free, eight-lane tunnel to replace the George Massey Tunnel will advance this summer with selection of the Fraser River Tunnel Project’s preferred proponent, Cross Fraser Partnership.  The new crossing will replace the George Massey Tunnel with a toll-free, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel that includes three general-purpose travel lanes and a dedicated public transit lane in each direction. The new tunnel will also feature a separate multi-use path to support walking, biking and other active transportation options. Building on the extensive design work already completed by the Province, the project now enters the development phase, which allows a transparent and collaborative approach to tunnel design, and agreement on project costs and risks between the Province and Cross Fraser Partnership. The final design and cost submission will culminate in a design-build agreement. The Cross Fraser Partnership team that will collaborate with the Province through the development phase is comprised of Bouygues Construction Canada Inc., Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd., Pomerleau BC Inc. and Arcadis Canada Inc. The environmental assessment continues in parallel with the development of the project design and early works with major construction starting in 2026. Read the full news release via https://lnkd.in/geG3rmV7 For information about the Highway 99 Tunnel Program, including a video that explains the Fraser River Tunnel Project and corridor improvements, visit: https://lnkd.in/g7Z9HvnZ Learn more about Infrastructure BC and the projects our team is supporting owners with via www.infrastructurebc.com #infrastructure #highwayinfrastructure #roadinfrastructure #projectplanning #projects #publicprojects #immersedtubetunnel #infrastructureinvestment #procurement #procurementleaders #communications #communicationsmanagement #infrastructurecommunications

Team selected to design new toll-free, eight-lane Massey tunnel The next stage of design for the new toll-free, eight-lane tunnel to replace the George Massey Tunnel will advance this summer with selection of the Fraser River Tunnel Project’s preferred proponent, Cross Fraser Partnership.  The new crossing will replace the George Massey Tunnel with a toll-free, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel that includes three general-purpose travel lanes and a dedicated public transit lane in each direction. The new tunnel will also feature a separate multi-use path to support walking, biking and other active transportation options. Building on the extensive design work already completed by the Province, the project now enters the development phase, which allows a transparent and collaborative approach to tunnel design, and agreement on project costs and risks between the Province and Cross Fraser Partnership. The final design and cost submission will culminate in a design-build agreement. The Cross Fraser Partnership team that will collaborate with the Province through the development phase is comprised of Bouygues Construction Canada Inc., Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd., Pomerleau BC Inc. and Arcadis Canada Inc. The environmental assessment continues in parallel with the development of the project design and early works with major construction starting in 2026. Read the full news release via https://lnkd.in/gWZSzRFQ For information about the Highway 99 Tunnel Program, including a video that explains the Fraser River Tunnel Project and corridor improvements, visit: https://lnkd.in/gR2igWm4 Learn more about Infrastructure BC and the projects our team is supporting owners with via www.infrastructurebc.com #infrastructure #highwayinfrastructure #roadinfrastructure #projectplanning #projects #publicprojects #immersedtubetunnel #infrastructureinvestment #procurement #procurementleaders

Foundation work begins on bridge to take A43 highway over HS2 railway near Brackley HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd main works contractor Eiffage Kier Ferrovial BAM (EKFB) has begun construction of the #foundations for a road bridge to take the A43 over the under-construction #railway. #EKFB, a joint venture between Eiffage, Kier Group, Ferrovial and BAM UK & Ireland Nuttall, has begun work on the 52m deep #piled foundations to support the weight of the #bridge, which is being constructed just outside of Brackley, West Northamptonshire. The A43, which links #Oxford, #Brackley and #Northampton, is a vital route providing access to #Silverstone and #connections between the M40 and M1. Once the foundations of the new bridge are completed, they will be topped with #concrete pile caps and piers to #support the 66m-long bridge deck that will carry the road. Over two weekend closures during a seven-month realignment project of the A43 last year, HS2 and EKFB worked closely with National Highways to create an “island” between the two carriageways big enough for the construction of the new bridge deck. Once the deck has been completed, the road will be moved back over the new bridge and excavation can begin to create space for the railway to pass underneath. This multi-stage approach was designed to keep traffic flowing and reduce disruption. HS2 senior project manager Elizabeth Longinotti CEng MICE said: “It’s great to see the start of foundation works for the A43 overbridge. “Once complete, HS2 will boost connections between Britain’s two largest cities while freeing up space for more local services on the existing network. But it’s also vital that we keep the local routes which people depend on open while we build the railway. “That’s why we’ve worked closely with #NationalHighway and our #contractors to design and deliver a complex multi-stage project which will keep disruption to a minimum while we deliver this key overbridge.” EKFB project director Tony Wehby FCIOB said: “EKFB’s priority was to minimise disruption for local road users and to keep communities connected as best as possible. The road closures were minimised to short periods and often overnight. “The team is thrilled to be at this point in the construction programme and the start of piling works signifies outstanding team collaboration to get it to this stage. This a complex set of works and is a unique construction project that heavily leans on the expertise of the multiple contractors involved in delivering these works to a high and safe standard.” https://lnkd.in/e9tViEG6

It's incredible to see how SizewellC is integrating sustainable practices into its construction by relying on rail and sea transport for materials. Beyond reducing road traffic, these upgrades will benefit the community for years to come with safer crossings and improved transport links. Projects like this show how infrastructure can create a positive legacy. How do you think major projects in your area could balance development with community benefits and sustainability?

The United States is in a perpetual state of construction. Towns are being developed from the ground up, high-rise buildings are shooting higher and higher, and new bridges and roads are appearing at rapid speed. Among such abundance, it is rare to happen upon a construction project that is significant enough to capture the attention of the nation. This is true of the Hudson Tunnel Project, which forms part of wider plans to improve the Northeast Corridor (NEC) by transforming rail travel between New York and New Jersey. The improvement of the Northeast Corridor, the most used passenger rail line in the country, is not a single project but a collective vision that spans the entire region, transformative in scale and revolutionary in scope. This vision is at the very core of the Gateway Development Commission (GDC) Program, the most urgent infrastructure program in America. The Hudson Tunnel Project is made up of three components, the first of which is the new two-track Hudson River Tunnel between the Bergen Palisades in New Jersey and Manhattan. The second is the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing, a right-of-way preservation section that will allow trains to travel between the new Hudson River Tunnel and the existing Penn Station. And the third is the rehabilitation of the North River Tunnel, which was built more than one-hundred years ago to early 20th century standards and sustained severe damage during Superstorm Sandy. The project will see each of these components come together to significantly improve rail services for hundreds of thousands of daily passengers. #RailRoads #RoadConnections #RailWay #Transport #TransportIndustry #Construction #ConstructionIndustry #Tunnel #Tunneling

Tom Reader and Andrew Fireman are leading the employee-owned engineering consultancy’s debut office in the North West. Ardent Consulting Engineers advises on infrastructure design, flood risk, sustainability, acoustics, air quality, energy, and transport planning. The company boasts approximately 100 employees across its eight offices in London, Ipswich, Billericay, Bristol, Nottingham, Kent, Edinburgh, and now #Manchester. Read more on Place North West