Case study: New Rail Crossing, River Tees, Stockton

Background:-
Network Rail and Carillion required an innovative redesign for a new rail crossing, following the discovery of old foundations belonging to the world’s first railway suspension bridge. The assignment was able to utilise the unique skills of HBPW’s Managing Partner, Paul Withers.

Challenge
The redesign was vital to both ensure the historic remains were protected whilst enabling the new £4.5m, 82m-long Network Rail bridge to remain on schedule.

As Network Rail’s Project Manager Simon Barraclough commented at the time of construction: “Had we stopped work to argue the finer detail, we might still not be out of the ground.”

Solution
Thanks to some innovative thinking the work was able to progress quickly and by working as a team, all parties were able to sort a raft of challenges to ensure that the project came to fruition without serious interruption and with the minimum of delay.

Outcome
HBPW stepped up to the podium to receive the prestigious Robert Stephenson Award alongside its two project partners, for the best job in the North East in excess of £4m.