Varinder Raulia and David Greenaway from the Selly Oak Railway Bridge Team

A team of dedicated construction experts that successfully delivered the heaviest concrete bridge move ever undertaken in Europe, has been named as a finalist in Birmingham City Council’s (BCC) prestigious Chamberlain Awards.

Ten BCC employees from the Selly Oak New Road Railway Bridge Team sacrificed their Christmas holiday last year to ensure the 3846 tonne new concrete railway bridge was installed during a 100 hour possession of the railway – a task which has led the team to be named as a finalist in the Excellent Service Delivery category.

The Chamberlain Awards scheme, which was established seven years ago by Councillor Alan Rudge, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human Resources, is named after Joseph Chamberlain – one of Birmingham’s most respected Civic Leaders and is designed to reward BCC workers who go the extra mile to ensure that people of Birmingham receive quality services.

The 70m railway bridge deck was initially built to the side of the live railway, located on the A38 Bristol Road, meaning trains were kept running at all times bar the 100 hour installation period. Missing this tight window of opportunity would have resulted in the £16 million project being put on hold for 12 months until the next available track possession in National Rail’s calendar.

Completed twelve hours ahead of schedule and in extreme weather conditions, the Birmingham to Gloucester railway bridge took four days to install by a team of 70 construction staff employed by the main contractor Birse Civils Ltd. The Selly Oak New Road Railway Bridge Team supervised the works of the contractor to ensure specification and programme was achieved. If the planned time scale had not been met, each extra day would have cost £700,000.

Varinder Raulia, Head of Transportation Projects for BCC commented: “Making this project a success required dedication, hard work and an awful lot of planning. With so much that could have gone wrong, including inflated costs, an incorrect fit of the bridge, delays in construction and even increased traffic congestion on the roads, it is testimony to the huge efforts and invaluable teamwork that was evident throughout all stages of the project, that the bridge was successfully installed.  

 “Despite the harsh weather, more than one hundred people came out to watch the installation of the new railway bridge; many seeing it as part of their history and something which would help shape the future development of the area and increase local prosperity.

“This has been one of the biggest and best projects most of the construction team will ever get to work on, after all a project like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. For it to have been such a success is the icing on the cake really and something we will continue to be incredibly proud of. Being named as a finalist in the Chamberlain Awards reflects the hard work that was put in by each and every person involved in the construction process, from planning to installation, and I would personally like to congratulate every member of the team who helped complete the process.”

The Selly Oak New Road Phrase 2 project included the construction of 0.6 kilometre of new road, widening of the A38 Bristol Road and construction of five new structures, including the railway bridge and an aqueduct. Construction commenced in July 2009 and was completed last month (August 2011).

Councillor Rudge said: “The finalists in this year’s Chamberlain Awards have shown sheer determination and a caring attitude that really makes a difference to the local community. Their achievements highlight how the work done by Birmingham City Council employees has a direct and very real impact on both the city itself and the local residents.

“Since the awards scheme began, it has always attracted a high calibre of entrants and this year the competition is stronger than ever. The awards celebrate those employees who have gone far beyond their roles to make important and beneficial contributions to the communities in which they work and it is a pleasure to read so many inspiring stories.”

Award submissions were received under ten categories, including Working with Communities, Imaginative Teamwork and Dynamic Leadership. The general public were also invited to nominate their favourite team or member of staff in the People’s Choice for Service to the Community category. This award provides people, who do not work for BCC, with the opportunity to nominate the team or member of staff that they believe most deserves recognition.

The highly anticipated annual ceremony, where the winners of Chamberlain Awards 2011 will be announced, is due to be held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre (ICC) on 11 November.