London 2012 Olympic
Games Update

Bridge Launch over Live Tracks

In an unprecedented feat of engineering, the 1,600 tonne, 128m long and 14m wide bridge touched down in Stratford, London.

The bridge was constructed on site in three sections which were then progressively pushed out on three separate occasions.

The Bridge was successfully pushed over 11 live railway lines. It is one step closer to serving millions of spectators during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will provide a vital link from the existing town centre to Westfield’s £1.45 bn Stratford City Project.

Patrick Hallgate, Network Rail Anglia route director, said: “This project took a great deal of planning and collaboration with our partners to ensure all the necessary measures were in place. We’ve been able to deliver this final piece of key infrastructure without any disruption to train services through Stratford station.”

Big build of Handball Arena Starts Early

During the Games the distinctive copper-clad Handball Arena will host qualifying games for the Handball competition as well as Modern Pentathlon Fencing and Goalball during the Paralympic Games.

Over the coming months around 200 piles will be driven 25 metres into the ground to form the foundations for the venue on track to start coming out of the ground in the Autumn and be completed by summer 2011 ready for test events.
The venue features over 3,000 sq m of external copper cladding, mostly recycled, to give it a distinctive appearance that will develop a rich natural colour as it ages.
Construction is now underway on the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Olympic Village, IBC/MPC, Velodrome as well as roads, bridges and infrastructure right across the Olympic Park.
The sailing facilities at Weymouth and Portland were completed last year and work recently started on the White Water Canoe Centre in Broxbourne.

EQUIPMENT ON SEEN ON ABOVE SITE
PIling driving begins with variety of plant and equipment. Main piling rig is from Bachy Soletanche.

A Cat hydraulic excavator equipped with ditching bucket stands by. In the background is the main stadium which is rapidly taking shape. Equipment visible includes a Weldex 1300 t. Liebherr LR11750 crane is being used to install roofing elements together with a Demag AC40-1 3-axle Clity Crane from Baldwins.

The large access platform is a JLG 150HAX. Other equipment includes a Wacker Neuson dumper, Terex Site Dumper, a Terex lightweight vibratory roller, a JCB 3CX backhoe-loader, a Komatsu excavator and a fleet of Potain Topkit Tower Cranes.

Buckingham Group Contracting was appointed to deliver the venue

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