VolkerFitzpatrick Celebrates Milestone at SEGRO Logistics Park Radlett with Completion of Major Underbridge
VolkerFitzpatrick is proud to announce the successful completion of the first major construction milestone at SEGRO Logistics Park Radlett, with the installation of a significant underbridge structure beneath the current Midland Main railway line.
The works, on behalf of SEGRO, were carried out over a nine-day period when the railway line, which runs between London St Pancras and Bedford, was closed for wider improvements during the festive period. Meticulous planning and co-ordination has been established to enable the completion of the tight timeframe in the first phase of this momentous project.
To move the recently constructed cast in-situ underbridge, which VolkerFitzpatrick has spent 9 months constructing next to the rail line, a unique and complex cabling system was built underneath the concrete structure. The process involved cutting out a 60m section of track and removing approximately 12000 m3 of soil from the 19th century rail embankment. The cabling system then pulled the 6,000-tonne pre-cast concrete structure into place at approximately 4m per hour, then backfilling material around the concrete structure and reinstating the track.
The underbridge is essential not only to enable the construction of the logistics park,but will also allow for a two road rail line feed into a new rail terminal area on the wider Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) project which is set to be a state-of-the-art rail connected logistics facility. It will be one of 20 in the UK and the only one serving the London area and spans approximately 1,000 acres, incorporating 335,000 sqm of advanced, highly sustainable logistics warehouse space, enveloped in 600 acres of managed woodland, conservation grazing and public country park.
During construction, VolkerFitzpatrick has been committed to being sensitive to the surrounding community and have implemented a range of measures to minimise disruption, including strict noise control protocols, dust suppression techniques, and maintaining clear communication channels with residents.
"This milestone marks a significant achievement for VolkerFitzpatrick and showcases our commitment to delivering complex infrastructure projects with precision and care. With an unprecedented tight schedule to deliver over a nine day period, the successful installation of the underbridge is a testament to the teams meticulous planning, technical expertise, and the dedication. We are proud to contribute to a development that will leave a lasting positive impact on both the local community and the national supply chain.”
Paul Lilley VolkerFitzpatrick’s Divisional Director, Rail and Depots
Charles Blake, Senior Director, at SEGRO, said: “The successful installation of the jack box is a critical first construction milestone in the development of the SRFI at SEGRO Logistics Park Radlett, and the result of months of meticulous planning, preparation and delivery to ensure it could be completed during the Christmas period when the railway was already scheduled to be closed.
“In the context of the wider development it is a relatively small component, but it is vitally important to ensuring that the freight terminal will be capable of operating by the time the first building has been constructed and reinforces our commitment to rail freight being at the heart of this development.”
This prestigious project marks a significant milestone in enhancing the UK's rail freight infrastructure, providing substantial benefits for the local economy and the national supply chain.
