Project Title: 

Large Scale Topo and Utility Surveys | Murphy Geospatial

Location:

United Kingdom

Client:

Skanska Costain STRABAG JV (SCS JV

Date:

2019-2021

Business Sectors: 

Civil Infrastructure

Services (Technical Disciplines):

• Subsurface Investigation
• Topographical Surveys

Our Role:

Murphy Geospatial successfully delivered this large contract for the HS2 project, which will increase rail capacity and connectivity across the country, connecting London, the West Midlands, Manchester and Leeds.

The brief was to support one of HS2’s principal contractors, Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture (SCS JV), which is delivering the 26.4km London section of HS2’s journey from West Ruislip to its southern terminus in Euston.

The project required topographic and utility surveys to help the design of utility diversions needed for the new railway line’s construction. The area of survey is one of the most complex as it’s close to central London with high levels of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Following several site visits and meetings, we rearranged the schedule to take account of feedback raised by the public and local stakeholders. This included:

• Planning and splitting scoped works to make sure road diversions were kept as short as possible, minimising disruption to the local communities
• Considering the local infrastructure, such as scheduling works near schools during school holidays, and those near shops at night-time or early morning, again taking into consideration the needs of the public
• Liaising closely with local authorities and SCS JV to keep lane closures and bus stop and parking suspensions to a minimum
• Planning closures and suspensions on a nightly or daily basis instead of large or lengthy closures which would affect residents and traffic flow
• Produced a detailed risk assessment and method statement for each site, including traffic management to ensure the works could be carried out safely, with minimised risk and disruption
• Provided a detailed programme of works, in accordance with the contract and NEC3 requirements, which was regularly updated and communicated to the project manager

Project Objectives/ Outcomes:

A detailed 3D topographical and subsurface model was required by the main contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG JV (SCS JV), working on the HS2 state-of-the-art, high-speed rail line – the UK’s biggest infrastructure project.

Geoscience Ireland Contact:

David Graham (dgraham@murphysurveys.ie)