Cristina Lago

London

Deputy Editor at Construction Management

Journalist & writer | Deputy editor @ConstructMgmt | @NUJofficial Equality Council co-chair + NEC rep for London + @NUJmags committee

Articles

Keltbray track worker narrowly misses train travelling at 100mph

1 week ago | constructionmanagement.co.uk | Cristina Lago

The rail accident watchdog has released a report after a Keltbray Infrastructure Services track worker was involved in a near miss at Chiltern Green in April 2024. A train travelling at 104mph (167kmh) came very close to striking the worker, who was crossing an underbridge between Harpenden and Luton Airport Parkway stations. The track worker was just stepping off the bridge from an area where there was very limited space between the bridge parapet and the track when the train passed.
In pictures | Bespoke ground shoring built for challenging large excavation

1 week ago | constructionmanagement.co.uk | Cristina Lago

Temporary works specialist Altrad RMD Kwikform has provided a bespoke ground shoring and formwork structure for K Rouse Civil Engineering for the construction of the Fujifilm Borealis biotech manufacturing facility in Billingham. The project involved a 10m-deep excavation in a confined industrial environment, which required a bracing system (‘GeoBrace’) with a modular hydraulic design for trench stability and to guarantee safety throughout the process.
Carey’s plant transport licence halved after excavator knocked off trailer

1 week ago | constructionmanagement.co.uk | Cristina Lago

Carey London’s plant transport vehicle licence allowance has been halved after one of its drivers struck a bridge, resulting in an eight-tonne excavator falling off a trailer. The plant was being transported on the back of a Carey trailer when it collided with a bridge on the A205 Upper Richmond Road in London, outside East Putney Tube station, on the morning of 21 October 2024. The collision resulted in the excavator being knocked off the trailer bed onto the adjacent footpath. No one was injured.
Gilbert-Ash makes move to employee ownership trust

1 week ago | constructionmanagement.co.uk | Cristina Lago

CIOB chartered company member Gilbert-Ash has announced the transition to an employee ownership trust (EOT). The Belfast-based construction and fit-out company has been the main contractor at several important UK landmarks, including the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Liverpool and the Everyman Theatre. In 2023, it reported its highest-ever turnover, at £267m.
Watchdog investigates after two track workers struck by wagon

1 week ago | constructionmanagement.co.uk | Cristina Lago

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has opened an investigation after two track workers were struck by a wagon at Port Glasgow on 15 March. It happened when the wagon was being propelled by a rail-mounted crane within an engineering possession. One track worker became trapped between the wagon and a track panel, which had previously been placed on the railway by a second crane. Both cranes were being used as part of the renewal of a section of track within the possession.
Demolition of 'Scotland's Chernobyl' due to begin

1 week ago | constructionmanagement.co.uk | Cristina Lago

Work to demolish an abandoned estate in Port Glasgow dubbed ‘Scotland’s Chernobyl’ is due to begin within the next couple of weeks. Contractors have already moved on site to prepare for the demolition of the former school and church buildings in Clune Park estate. The first demolition phase will involve knocking down 138 of the circa 430 residential properties across 45 tenement blocks.
Builder sentenced to unpaid work after illegal asbestos removal

1 week ago | constructionmanagement.co.uk | Cristina Lago

A builder was given a community payback sentence after carrying out unlicensed asbestos removal work at a house in Cheadle, Manchester, in September 2022. Gavin Mutch, trading as G Mutch Developments, had been contracted to deliver renovations at the property, including roofing work. Despite being warned by his client that asbestos was potentially present in the fascia boards, Mutch removed the asbestos-containing materials.
Coffee concrete used for base of four-storey high whale sculpture

1 week ago | constructionmanagement.co.uk | Cristina Lago

A base made from a concrete mix using recycled coffee grounds has been used to support a 12m-high sculpture of a blue whale in London’s Canary Wharf. The Whale on the Wharf (Skyscraper) by architect Studio KCA was created from plastic waste recovered from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and has been sited in a wet dock in Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf area.
Kier wins underground mapping contract with National Highways

2 weeks ago | bimplus.co.uk | Cristina Lago

QuikStats, Kier’s utility search service, has won a National Highways contract to provide underground utility mapping data. The £9m underground mapping contract will run for three years, with the possibility of a further year’s extension. QuikStats will be National Highways’ sole service provider for C2 utility stat searches. C2 searches identify the underground locations of utilities and infrastructure to the PAS 128-D standard.
CIC calls for proposals to help meet government’s 1.5m homes target

2 weeks ago | constructionmanagement.co.uk | Cristina Lago

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has launched a call for evidence to inform a probe into the government’s housing targets. Under the question “How can we build 1.5m quality homes in this Parliament?”, CIC is asking industry experts and anyone interested in the issue to share strategy proposals and innovative solutions that could help achieve this homebuilding target.