Ordsall Chord
Manchester, England, UK · 2015–2017 (opened December 2017) · £85m (construction contract)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe project was a crucial part of the Northern Hub programme, significantly improving rail connectivity and capacity in Northern England. - Utilized innovative digital design delivery (3D-model-only approach) to minimize costs and time. - Achieved CEEQUAL 'Excellent' rating for sustainable delivery, demonstrating a strong focus on environmental considerations. - The project's success highlights the importance of collaborative project delivery within an alliance framework.
Key engineering challenges
Constructing a new railway viaduct and bridge in a historically significant and constrained urban environment, adjacent to listed structures. - Designing and building an iconic steel arch bridge over the River Irwell and existing railway lines. - Integrating new infrastructure to connect three major railway stations for the first time, requiring complex track and signalling alterations. - Overcoming legal challenges and ensuring minimal disruption to operational railway services during construction.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Network Rail
- Lead contractor
- Skanska-BAM Nuttall Joint Venture
- Lead designers
- BDP (lead architect, Peter Jenkins), Mott MacDonald, Knight Architects
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Short railway line (300m viaduct); iconic steel arch bridge; connects Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, and Manchester Victoria stations.
- Disciplines
- civil; structural; architectural; geotechnical; project management
- Standards & frameworks
- Network Rail standards, CEEQUAL, NEC3 (likely for contract)
Sources: Skanska (Nov 2017, https://www.skanska.co.uk/about-skanska/news-and-events/press-releases/212667/Ordsall-Chord-successfully-transforming-rail-transport-in-the-north); New Civil Engineer (Mar 2016, https://www.building.co.uk/news/skanska-and-bam-win-85m-ordsall-chord-deal/5080957.article); BDP (undated, https://www.bdp.com/us/projects/ordsall-chord); Mott MacDonald (undated, https://www.mottmac.com/en/projects/first-of-its-kind-bridge-transformed-rail-connectivity-uk/)