Project overview
The Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension forms a key part of Transport for West Midlands’ expansion of the West Midlands Metro network. The approximately 11km light rail route branches from the existing Metro line near Wednesbury, and travels through Tipton and Dudley town centre towards Brierley Hill. It will improve access to employment, education, and leisure opportunities while supporting wider regeneration.
Amrose Associates was appointed to provide specialist engineering design support for piling, lifting, and access operations along key sections of the route.
The challenge
The route passes through areas with a long history of heavy industry and shallow coal mining. These legacy ground conditions created uncertainty around bearing capacity, settlement, and the possible influence of historic mine workings.
Heavy construction plant, including piling rigs, cranes and mobile elevating work platforms, needed to operate safely in locations where the existing ground could not be relied upon to provide adequate support.
The project also involved sensitive interfaces with existing railway and canal infrastructure.
Key challenges included:
- Variable and potentially unstable ground conditions
- Historic shallow mining and incomplete ground records
- High loads generated by piling rigs and cranes
- Restricted access within a constrained infrastructure corridor
- Proximity to existing railway and canal assets
- Maintaining the stability of adjacent embankments
- Coordinating temporary and permanent works
- Meeting the assurance and compliance requirements of a rail environment
How we helped
We designed a series of engineered working platforms to support piling operations, crane lifts, and mobile elevating work platform access.
Each platform was developed for its specific location and operational requirements. The designs considered plant loads, platform geometry, available ground investigation data, potential mining influence zones, and the proposed construction sequence.
Where historic records or ground information were incomplete, suitable engineering assumptions were adopted to manage uncertainty, and maintain appropriate factors of safety against bearing failure and excessive deformation.
For bridge-beam installation, we developed load-spreading solutions and reinforced platform build-ups capable of safely distributing the significant loads generated during crane operations.
Where the works were located close to railway and canal infrastructure, Amrose assessed how construction loads and excavation activities could affect neighbouring assets. The working platforms were carefully positioned and detailed to limit adverse load transfer, and protect adjacent structures.
Alongside an existing canal, Amrose completed a slope stability assessment and designed a stepped excavation arrangement, to help maintain the stability of the embankment during construction.
Close coordination with the permanent works designers and construction teams ensured that the proposed temporary works supported the wider methodology, and remained appropriate throughout each stage of delivery.
The outcome
Amrose Associates provided practical, site-specific engineering solutions that enabled piling, access and bridge installation activities to progress safely across challenging sections of the Metro extension.
The designs addressed geotechnical uncertainty, historic mining risk, and sensitive interfaces with existing railway and canal infrastructure. They also provided stable operating areas for heavy construction plant where the existing ground conditions were unsuitable.
Through close coordination and a contractor-focused approach, Amrose helped create safe and buildable foundations for the continued delivery of this strategically important transport scheme.
Need engineering support for a rail or infrastructure project? Amrose Associates provides practical, safe and buildable engineering solutions for complex infrastructure projects. Ask Amrose on 0113 391 9840 or email enquiries@amroseassociates.com
