A significant step in the construction of the second phase of the Birmingham Westside extension on the West Midlands Metro has been reached following the largest continuous concrete pour of the project. More than 230m of concrete was laid along Broad Street (between Lee Longlands and Cineworld) as part of the foundation for the new track to Edgbaston on Wednesday 24th June.
The pour took 10 hours for the Midland Metro Alliance to complete – four hours ahead of schedule – with a fleet of six trucks each hour used to deliver 55 loads equating to 360m3 of concrete.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Public transport has a critical role to play in our region’s future, including the short-term bounce back from coronavirus, and I am pleased to see this metro scheme mark another milestone. Once complete the Birmingham Westside Metro extension will offer people quick and convenient access to many attractions and businesses in and around Broad Street, and I am determined we press ahead and get it finished as soon as possible.”
Paul Brown, Construction Director for the Midland Metro Alliance, said: “The completion of the first continuous concrete pour on the project marks a momentous achievement, not only for the project but the construction team whose remarkable efforts allowed these works to be completed successfully and to schedule, even during these uncertain times and whilst maintaining all the government’s guidelines as well as social distancing at all times. They have adapted to changes in working practices in order to ensure progress continues to be made so that the area will be presentable when businesses start to return. The support and commitment of our suppliers has also been instrumental in helping us to complete such a large concrete pour safely and we are thrilled that these works have allowed us to support a local business, helping them to stay open during these times.”
The line to Hagley Road in Edgbaston is due to open in 2021 and is a continuation of the Westside extension which opened as far as Library in December 2019.
* A time-lapse video of the pour is available online (don’t worry it’s a time lapse video – it isn’t ten hours worth of concrete being poured!)