VolkerFitzpatrick has installed tonnes of steelwork for the concourse of a new mainline railway station in Brent Cross.
The operation, which took place from 28 August under a 72-hour possession, marked the next phase of construction at the station, which is being built on the Midland Main Line and Thameslink routes, positioned between the existing Hendon and Cricklewood stations.
Following the installation of the second part of a new overbridge earlier in August, VolkerFitzpatrick began lifting in the concourse’s new main floor beams along with upper and lower columns and roof beams on 28 August. The biggest beams reach 13.5m in length, and weigh up to three tonnes each.
Throughout September, the team will continue to install the remaining steelwork, before casting the concourse’s concrete floor. The team will then begin installing lift shafts and escalators, creating step-free access throughout the station for passengers.
Once opened in 2022, the new overbridge will provide public access, over this part of the Midland Main Line, for the first time since it was built 150 years ago.
Gordon Hunt, project manager for VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “The start of the concourse construction, and bridging the mainline for the first time, is a major milestone for the project, and the success of this recent blockade shows the continued efforts made by all involved.
“This phase of the project is crucial, and has already seen the team install gridlines one through to five, which were needed for the installation of half permanent formwork panels for the concourse slab. Now installed, the team can start to construct the first section of the concourse slab, which – similar to the overbridge – will provide work access from the east to west platforms, across the mainline, for the first time since this part of the network was built.”
Work to build the station’s eastern entrance is also underway. It will feature a roof canopy of glazed panels resting on timber glulam columns, vines connected to ground floor planters by a wire trellis system, and ornamental trees in the entranceway.
