The Northern Line extension project has been recognised with the GE prize for Technical Excellence
The Ferrovial Agroman Laing O'Rourke JV at the Northern Line extension project (NLE) in London has been awarded for Technical Excellence at this year's Ground Engineering Awards. Construction of the NLE called for the JV to build two underground junctions – known as the step plate junctions– around existing tunnels. To do so, the team developed an alternative approach that, according to the judges, generated "persuasive improvements" in health and safety, project cost and reducing the scope of works. Conventional excavation methods were considered high risk and would have created a larger junction than necessary. That is when the team decided to reduce the length of the step plate junction from 100m to 61m, minimising the risk of subsidence and maximising the use of mechanised excavation and sprayed concrete linings. All this was done on a site adjacent to a live running London Underground tunnel.
The award recognises a specific hi-tech advancement or concept that has helped a company improve its performance or delivery of a challenging element of a project.
Juan Angel Martinez, Project Manager at the NLE, said:
"The design and construction of the Step Plate Junctions on the NLE project has set a benchmark for what a project can achieve with the right processes and the right people. This award recognises not only a commitment to technical excellence but highlights the dedication and innovation of our collaborative team. This is a well-deserved accolade and I highly commend every single person involved, from both FLO and London Underground, for all of their hard work."The event brought together 750 clients, contractors, designers and geotechnical experts for a glamorous evening of networking and celebration of engineering excellence. To read more about Ferrovial's work on the Northern Line extension project, see here
