New Civil Engineer
@social.newcivilengineer.com
Established in 1972, we are the official publication of the Institution of Civil Engineers, providing daily news, views and insight on the wide world of the built environment, engineering, infrastructure and the future of our planet.
Pinned
🚨 NEW ISSUE OUT NOW 🚨
Take a look at February's issue of NCE
Read now: buff.ly/Ompf5rT
Featuring:
📌 United Utilities' Vyrnwy Aqueduct modernisation programme
📌 Dam construction for Chimney Hollow Reservoir
📌 HS2's Wendover precast green tunnel
Take a look at February's issue of NCE
Read now: buff.ly/Ompf5rT
Featuring:
📌 United Utilities' Vyrnwy Aqueduct modernisation programme
📌 Dam construction for Chimney Hollow Reservoir
📌 HS2's Wendover precast green tunnel
More than 20 opposition and backbench MPs have urged regulators to reject a proposed deal between Thames Water and its creditors, arguing the package would short-change customers, weaken environmental protections and shirk accountability
Full story:
Full story:
Over 20 MPs tell Ofwat to reject Thames Water deal as it will mean ‘15 more years of pollution’ | New Civil Engineer
In an open letter to Chris Walters, interim chief executive of Ofwat, and environment secretary Emma Reynolds, the MPs said they were writing on behalf of
buff.ly
February 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM
More than 20 opposition and backbench MPs have urged regulators to reject a proposed deal between Thames Water and its creditors, arguing the package would short-change customers, weaken environmental protections and shirk accountability
Full story:
Full story:
Transport for London has issued a fresh preliminary market engagement notice for the Bakerloo Line Upgrade (BLU) Stage 1 Infrastructure Works, signalling a significant step forward in the modernisation of one of the capital’s oldest Underground lines
Full story:
Full story:
TfL ‘recommences’ market engagement for Bakerloo line upgrade with ‘refined’ approach | New Civil Engineer
This move is aimed at preparing the line for the introduction of new rolling stock, replacing the current fleet of 72 Tube Stock trains – the oldest in
buff.ly
February 14, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Transport for London has issued a fresh preliminary market engagement notice for the Bakerloo Line Upgrade (BLU) Stage 1 Infrastructure Works, signalling a significant step forward in the modernisation of one of the capital’s oldest Underground lines
Full story:
Full story:
Contractors, consultants and clients alike have all come out in force detailing the work they are doing to get young people into civil engineering this National Apprenticeship Week, (9–15 February)
Full story:
Full story:
Engineering sector comes out in force to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week | New Civil Engineer
Transport, water, construction and groups from across the suite of infrastructure and built environment sectors have announced fresh recruitment drives
buff.ly
February 14, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Contractors, consultants and clients alike have all come out in force detailing the work they are doing to get young people into civil engineering this National Apprenticeship Week, (9–15 February)
Full story:
Full story:
The president for the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) has proposed building a futuristic, interconnected high-speed railway for the North, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland referred to as “The Loop”, akin Saudi Arabia’s The Line
Full story:
Full story:
Riba chief proposes £130bn high-speed rail Loop around UK and Ireland inspired by Saudi ‘vision’ | New Civil Engineer
Chris Williamson’s ambitious £130bn proposal would link Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin and Bangor in a
buff.ly
February 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM
The president for the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) has proposed building a futuristic, interconnected high-speed railway for the North, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland referred to as “The Loop”, akin Saudi Arabia’s The Line
Full story:
Full story:
Tyne and Wear’s public transport operator Nexus has launched a tender to replace the permanent way and overhead lines on the Metro rail link serving Newcastle Airport
Full story:
Full story:
£16M contract to upgrade Newcastle Airport route of Tyne and Wear Metro tendered | New Civil Engineer
The authority is inviting bids for a principal contractor to deliver the Airport Route Upgrade work, which may also include associated civils and
buff.ly
February 14, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Tyne and Wear’s public transport operator Nexus has launched a tender to replace the permanent way and overhead lines on the Metro rail link serving Newcastle Airport
Full story:
Full story:
Parliament’s transport select committee has questioned whether the Railways Bill’s proposed Passengers’ Council will have enforcement power required to create a railway accessible by all
Full story: buff.ly/5pFo2ne
Full story: buff.ly/5pFo2ne
MPs cast doubt over proposed Passengers’ Council’s power to make UK railway accessible | New Civil Engineer
The committee of cross-party MPs published two reports earlier this week stemming from inquiries conducted since late 2024. The first inquiry was to
www.newcivilengineer.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Parliament’s transport select committee has questioned whether the Railways Bill’s proposed Passengers’ Council will have enforcement power required to create a railway accessible by all
Full story: buff.ly/5pFo2ne
Full story: buff.ly/5pFo2ne
Engineers from Skanska working on the £1bn A428 improvement between Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet have completed the installation of the primary steelwork for the River Great Ouse viaduct, the longest structure on the 16km dual carriageway scheme
Full story:
Full story:
£1bn A428 Black Cat scheme sees steelwork installed for 250m Great Ouse viaduct | New Civil Engineer
Work on installing the steelwork for the the 250m long viaduct began in October 2025 and, by just before Christmas, crews had lifted and positioned 20
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Engineers from Skanska working on the £1bn A428 improvement between Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet have completed the installation of the primary steelwork for the River Great Ouse viaduct, the longest structure on the 16km dual carriageway scheme
Full story:
Full story:
National Highways has revised its programme for major upgrade works on the A52 in Nottingham in a bid to recover time lost to recent storms and other unforeseen complications
Full story:
Full story:
National Highways revises A52 Nottingham works schedule in effort to recover lost time | New Civil Engineer
The improvements, on the stretch between the Priory roundabout and the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC), had been set back by severe weather earlier this year
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 4:40 PM
National Highways has revised its programme for major upgrade works on the A52 in Nottingham in a bid to recover time lost to recent storms and other unforeseen complications
Full story:
Full story:
Jackson Civil Engineering has been appointed to replace the ageing single‑lane Exceat Bridge on the A259, a busy coastal route in East Sussex, the county council has announced
Full story: buff.ly/GakKQsz
Full story: buff.ly/GakKQsz
Jackson appointed to £20M bridge replacement job on A259 in East Sussex | New Civil Engineer
The contractor will build a new two‑lane structure to the north of the existing bridge, which carries the A259 across the River Cuckmere at the entrance
www.newcivilengineer.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Jackson Civil Engineering has been appointed to replace the ageing single‑lane Exceat Bridge on the A259, a busy coastal route in East Sussex, the county council has announced
Full story: buff.ly/GakKQsz
Full story: buff.ly/GakKQsz
Op-ed: Could BIM’s coming-of-age unlock better collaboration in construction?
✒️ NBS director of global technical content and classification Phil Simpson
Read on:
✒️ NBS director of global technical content and classification Phil Simpson
Read on:
Could BIM’s coming-of-age unlock better collaboration in construction? | New Civil Engineer
The latest research confirms this shift is now mainstream. The NBS 2025 Digital Construction Report reveals that the construction industry finally grasps
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Op-ed: Could BIM’s coming-of-age unlock better collaboration in construction?
✒️ NBS director of global technical content and classification Phil Simpson
Read on:
✒️ NBS director of global technical content and classification Phil Simpson
Read on:
The Gateway Development Commission is confident construction of the $16bn (£12bn) Hudson Tunnel Project can resume as $205M (£150M) of federal funding will be disbursed following a court ruling – but uncertainty lingers over future payouts from the White House
Full story:
Full story:
Hudson Tunnel to resume as government ordered to pay $205M owed but future sums uncertain | New Civil Engineer
Construction of the new rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey was paused a week ago on 6 February. However, a judge ruled in favour of GDC demanded
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM
The Gateway Development Commission is confident construction of the $16bn (£12bn) Hudson Tunnel Project can resume as $205M (£150M) of federal funding will be disbursed following a court ruling – but uncertainty lingers over future payouts from the White House
Full story:
Full story:
Kier Construction has been appointed as the main contractor for the £35M Southern Gateway Car Park project, a key landmark in Bristol’s Temple Quarter regeneration initiative, promising enhanced connectivity and sustainable urban development
Full story:
Full story:
Kier wins £35M Bristol Temple Meads Southern Gateway contract | New Civil Engineer
The Southern Gateway project is designed to establish a new southern entrance to Bristol Temple Meads Station, enhancing connectivity and promoting
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Kier Construction has been appointed as the main contractor for the £35M Southern Gateway Car Park project, a key landmark in Bristol’s Temple Quarter regeneration initiative, promising enhanced connectivity and sustainable urban development
Full story:
Full story:
Transport for London has awarded M Group a significant five-year contract for the maintenance of its bridges and civil structures, with an option to extend for an additional three years
Full story:
Full story:
TfL awards £119M bridges and structures maintenance contract to M Group | New Civil Engineer
Following a competitive process conducted under the Competitive Flexible Procedure of the Procurement Act 2023, M Group Transport (Rail and Aviation) was
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Transport for London has awarded M Group a significant five-year contract for the maintenance of its bridges and civil structures, with an option to extend for an additional three years
Full story:
Full story:
Network Rail has issued a preliminary market engagement notice signalling a major procurement exercise for Scotland’s Railway Electrification Framework, a key pillar of the country’s ambitious rail decarbonisation strategy
Full story: buff.ly/qPrsliq
Full story: buff.ly/qPrsliq
Network Rail alerts contractors to £450M electrification framework for Scotland | New Civil Engineer
The framework will provide the backbone for delivering electrification infrastructure, crucial for cutting emissions and facilitating a greener, more
www.newcivilengineer.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Network Rail has issued a preliminary market engagement notice signalling a major procurement exercise for Scotland’s Railway Electrification Framework, a key pillar of the country’s ambitious rail decarbonisation strategy
Full story: buff.ly/qPrsliq
Full story: buff.ly/qPrsliq
The West of England Combined Authority has announced it will focus on developing a mass transit system to take passengers from Bristol city centre to the airport hoping to start construction in the next four to five years
Full story:
Full story:
Construction of mass transit system between Bristol and Airport targeted to start within 5 years | New Civil Engineer
What form this mass transit will take is yet to be decided by the authority has suggested both a light railway or electric tram system as suitable
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The West of England Combined Authority has announced it will focus on developing a mass transit system to take passengers from Bristol city centre to the airport hoping to start construction in the next four to five years
Full story:
Full story:
John Carpenter, a long-standing and highly respected member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), has formally resigned from the organisation in an open letter that criticises the ICE’s handling of the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy
Full story:
Full story:
Fellow and risk specialist resigns from ICE over ‘lack of adequate response to Grenfell’ | New Civil Engineer
Carpenter, who had been a member since the 1970s and a Fellow for over 40 years – as well as secretary of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety for
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 5:06 PM
John Carpenter, a long-standing and highly respected member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), has formally resigned from the organisation in an open letter that criticises the ICE’s handling of the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy
Full story:
Full story:
Work to upgrade parts of the East Coast Main Line has reached its midpoint as engineers prepare to begin a series of digital signalling tests later this month that will help pave the way for in‑cab signalling between Welwyn and Hitchin
Full story:
Full story:
Work reaches halfway mark on East Coast Main Line upgrade as digital signalling tests loom | New Civil Engineer
Over the past two weekends contractors have carried out a range of renewals and upgrades along the route. Track has been relaid at Finsbury Park, St Neots
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Work to upgrade parts of the East Coast Main Line has reached its midpoint as engineers prepare to begin a series of digital signalling tests later this month that will help pave the way for in‑cab signalling between Welwyn and Hitchin
Full story:
Full story:
Albert Bridge in west London has been closed to motor traffic as a precaution after a routine inspection revealed a cracked cast‑iron component at one of the bridge abutments, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has confirmed
Full story:
Full story:
Cheslea’s Albert Bridge closed to motor traffic after cracked cast iron component found | New Civil Engineer
The 150‑year‑old crossing between Cheslea and Battersea, which opened in 1873 and is a Grade II* listed structure, remains open to pedestrians and
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Albert Bridge in west London has been closed to motor traffic as a precaution after a routine inspection revealed a cracked cast‑iron component at one of the bridge abutments, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has confirmed
Full story:
Full story:
A major upgrade to Britain’s electricity network could deliver a more than fourfold economic return and create tens of thousands of jobs, a new study has found
Full story:
Full story:
Arup study finds £34bn investment in UK grid over 15 years will unlock £194bn economic boost | New Civil Engineer
Consultancy Arup, working with Cambridge Econometrics, estimates that roughly £34bn of investment in the UK power grid over the next 15 years would unlock
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 3:30 PM
A major upgrade to Britain’s electricity network could deliver a more than fourfold economic return and create tens of thousands of jobs, a new study has found
Full story:
Full story:
A campaign has been launched in efforts to prompt local authorities to undertake restoration works on the historic swing bridge over the River Tyne, which has not opened since 2019
Full story: buff.ly/ehB3WOS
Full story: buff.ly/ehB3WOS
Campaign seeks remediation of hydraulic Tyne swing bridge as it reaches 150th anniversary | New Civil Engineer
The Grade II listed bridge, designed by William Armstrong, was opened in 1876 and was the world’s first moving bridge. The 171m long, 14m wide steel
www.newcivilengineer.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:08 PM
A campaign has been launched in efforts to prompt local authorities to undertake restoration works on the historic swing bridge over the River Tyne, which has not opened since 2019
Full story: buff.ly/ehB3WOS
Full story: buff.ly/ehB3WOS
The Planning Inspectorate has outlined new technologies and methods it is incorporating to streamline the consenting process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)
Full story: buff.ly/QjH3P5q
Full story: buff.ly/QjH3P5q
Planning Inspectorate outlines its new methods for accelerating consenting of NSIPs | New Civil Engineer
The government introduced a suite of reforms primarily through its Planning and Infrastructure Act, which became law in late 2025, to address delays in
www.newcivilengineer.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:31 PM
The Planning Inspectorate has outlined new technologies and methods it is incorporating to streamline the consenting process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)
Full story: buff.ly/QjH3P5q
Full story: buff.ly/QjH3P5q
Op-ed: Renewable Energy Zones are powering Australia’s transition – and engineers are moving with it
✒️ Management, Commercial Engineering director and ICE NSW representative Matthew Colton
Read on:
✒️ Management, Commercial Engineering director and ICE NSW representative Matthew Colton
Read on:
Renewable Energy Zones are powering Australia’s transition – and engineers are moving with it | New Civil Engineer
These are clusters where wind, solar, batteries and transmission lines all come together, making it easier and cheaper to get clean power across the grid.
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Op-ed: Renewable Energy Zones are powering Australia’s transition – and engineers are moving with it
✒️ Management, Commercial Engineering director and ICE NSW representative Matthew Colton
Read on:
✒️ Management, Commercial Engineering director and ICE NSW representative Matthew Colton
Read on:
The City of London’s Planning Committee has approved Network Rail’s plans to transform Liverpool Street station in a scheme intended to boost capacity, accessibility and commercial space at one of Britain’s busiest transport hubs
Full story:
Full story:
Liverpool Street station overhaul receives planning approval | New Civil Engineer
Network Rail, which is leading the project, says the station has not seen a major redevelopment since 1991, despite passenger numbers having roughly
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The City of London’s Planning Committee has approved Network Rail’s plans to transform Liverpool Street station in a scheme intended to boost capacity, accessibility and commercial space at one of Britain’s busiest transport hubs
Full story:
Full story:
More than 20 opposition and backbench MPs have urged regulators to reject a proposed deal between Thames Water and its creditors, arguing the package would short-change customers, weaken environmental protections and shirk accountability
Full story:
Full story:
Over 20 MPs tell Ofwat to reject Thames Water deal as it will mean ‘15 more years of pollution’ | New Civil Engineer
In an open letter to Chris Walters, interim chief executive of Ofwat, and environment secretary Emma Reynolds, the MPs said they were writing on behalf of
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 4:18 PM
More than 20 opposition and backbench MPs have urged regulators to reject a proposed deal between Thames Water and its creditors, arguing the package would short-change customers, weaken environmental protections and shirk accountability
Full story:
Full story:
Construction teams from Balfour Beatty Vinci JV (BBV) have completed the concrete decks for four parallel viaducts that form part of HS2’s complex Delta Junction east of Birmingham
Full story:
Full story:
HS2 work in Birmingham sees completion of 4 parallel viaduct decks | New Civil Engineer
The viaducts, which stretch for more than 600m near Coleshill in Warwickshire, make up the southern element of the triangular interchange where the new
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Construction teams from Balfour Beatty Vinci JV (BBV) have completed the concrete decks for four parallel viaducts that form part of HS2’s complex Delta Junction east of Birmingham
Full story:
Full story: