Michael Sheridan, Balfour Beatty’s Regional Programme Director, has featured in New Civil Engineer, sharing behind-the-scenes insights into how the company embraced innovative ways of working to successfully complete vital restoration works to the Nuneham Viaduct in Oxfordshire.

In the article, Michael explains how Balfour Beatty utilised a construction-led design process through every stage of the project, which significantly reduced the project programme. In turn, Nuneham Viaduct was reopened ahead of schedule for the 40 freight trains and 100 passenger services that travel along the route every day.

Discussing the benefits of a construction-led design process, he said: “The construction team came up with the design sequence and told the designer what we wanted and what we had.

“So, rather than ask them, for example, ‘what piles do you think are needed to make this bridge work?’, we told them ‘We’ve got 762mm diameter piles, design something using them’.”

The construction-led design approach meant that the time which would usually have been spent sourcing and procuring the right materials was eliminated. As a result, the project - which would usually have taken two years to complete - was finished in 10 weeks, and one day ahead of schedule.

To read the article in full, please click here.

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