Cementation Skanska secures major £93m rail contract

Cementation has been appointed by the Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture working on behalf of HS2. Under the deal, worth £93 million, Cementation will create one of the largest current open-cut retaining boxes in Europe – equivalent in size to four football pitches.

The near 1km long site will house the tunnels coming into Euston station. More than 800 piles will be installed in creating the new Euston scissor box that will carry the new running lines. Works will also be carried out to construct some 700 piles for two new bridge structures – Hampstead Road Bridge and Granby Terrace Bridge – that will take traffic over the new lines. This is in addition to 418 piles for the Euston Throat Retained Cut, an extension to the scissor box, and 106 piles for the new Euston Cavern shaft.

As part of the project, the team will be developing new techniques to reduce carbon, including through the use of low carbon concrete. Safety will also be a key factor, with some of the works happening within six metres of the West Coast main line.

“We are delighted to be working on this iconic project,” said Operations Director Paul Wiltcher.

“We have been working closely with the Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture team and HS2 over a number of years to develop this bespoke solution. This includes finding ways to reduce carbon and costs, while making improvements in programme and safety outcomes.

 “The project provides work for around 100 of our highly skilled piling and ground engineering team who will be carrying out the works through to 2024. We’re now very much looking forward to playing our part in delivering this major new infrastructure asset for the country.”

This contract builds on work that Cementation is already carrying out on the project, to construct 435 bored pile retaining walls that will form the portal for the running line tunnels between West Ruislip and Old Oak Common. The works also include the installation of 117 large diameter rotary bored piles for two bridge structures. These structures will take the new HS2 lines over the River Pinn and Breakspear Road South near Ickenham.

Photo credit: Skanska

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