ð Rail
Saltley Viaduct in Birmingham will close to vehicles and pedestrians on 10 May as part of an 18 month project to demolish and replace it with a structure 2m taller to accommodate the HS2 railway beneath. The work will be carried out in stages due to the viaduct crossing a rail line, canal, and river, with sections of the new bridge installed using heavy lift transporters and cranes to minimise disruption.
In other rail news Morgan Sindal has been appointed as the main civil engineering contractor for a £200m project to reopen the Portishead rail line in the West of England. The scheme, led by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and delivered by Network Rail, includes relaying three miles of track, building new stations at Portishead and Pill, and delivering supporting infrastructure for passenger services, with funding from the Department for Transport and North Somerset Council.
ð«Ports and Airports
Infrastructure solutions firm Costain has been appointed by Dover Harbour Board to deliver utilities upgrades under the Port of Doverâs £235m Project Contractors Framework. Over the next six years, Costain will refurbish and replace key utility systems to improve resilience, enhance asset performance and support decarbonisation, helping the port expand its international trade capacity and deliver its long term 2050 Masterplan.
â¡Energy
Urenco has completed a five day UK trial producing LEU+, an advanced nuclear fuel designed for existing gigawatt scale reactors and future small modular reactors, which can last longer than traditional low enriched uranium (LEU). Confirmed on 1 May, the trial marked the first commercial production of LEU+ in the UK and Europe, though only in small quantities for testing.
16 SMEs secure £19m of work on Sellafield £7bn framework . Solomons Europe has helped 16 SMEs secure £19m of work on Sellafieldâs £7bn framework through its âMatchmakerâ scheme, which connects smaller firms with major contractors and simplifies access to complex infrastructure projects, boosting regional participation and socio economic impact.
ð Roads
National Highways appoints WSP to lead a team supporting National Highwaysâ Water Quality Plan, targeting pollution from road run off across the Strategic Road Network. Working with partners including Mott MacDonald, Ramboll, Arup and Aecom, the group will design solutions ranging from nature based, to mechanical, to treat high risk outfalls.
Four contractors selected for £200m Birmingham transport and infrastructure framework. Birmingham City Council has appointed AtkinsRéalis, Jacobs, Mott MacDonald and Pell Frischmann Consultants to a £200m transportation and infrastructure professional services framework set to run from June 2026 to May 2034. The framework, which can also be used by other public bodies across the West Midlands and surrounding regions, covers a broad range of services including highways and structural engineering, drainage and surface works, street lighting maintenance, traffic control, urban planning, air quality management and wider infrastructure consultancy.
ð Property and development
Rope-access infrastructure trained inspectors have completed maintenance and condition surveys on the 30m high roof and steelwork of London Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The team from RSK Group company Can used rope access and 50m reach platforms to inspect and clean more than four miles of steelwork across the operational stadium, identifying and repairing paint defects to help prevent corrosion and protect the structureâs long term condition.
Elsewhere, Balfour Beatty reports a strong start to 2026 ,reaffirming expectations of high single digit profit growth across its operating businesses this year. Ahead of its AGM on 7 May, the contractor said average monthly net cash between January and March rose to £1.55bn from £1.44bn in 2025, with full year average net cash expected to remain between £1.3bn and £1.5bn. Its £200m share buyback programme is progressing as planned, with around £54m already completed. The company also highlighted strong momentum across its key markets, supported by disciplined bidding and a stable, low risk order book. In 2025, Balfour Beatty achieved a 51 per cent rise in pre-tax profit to £323m and increased turnover by 15 per cent to £9.49bn, marking a fourth consecutive year of revenue growth.
ð§Water
Green light for Grangemockler as nature-based wastewater treatment plant confirmed. The project will deliver a sustainable, nature based wastewater treatment system designed to function like a natural wetland, reducing energy use and carbon emissions compared with conventional treatment methods while also acting as a carbon sink. The new facility will feature vegetated ponds planted with native species to enhance biodiversity and minimise visual impact on the surrounding landscape.
In other news, Jackson Civil Engineering has secured a £14m Hampshire coastal flood and erosion contract on behalf of Havant Borough Council. The project will provide 1km of continuous flood defences, including embankments, reinforced concrete walls, sheet-piled walls, flood glass, flood gates and demountable barriers. Scheduled to run from May 2026 to December 2030, the scheme will improve protection for 53 homes, four businesses and additional properties expected to face future flood risks due to climate change