VolkerFitzpatrick Successfully Completes Major Upgrade of the A38(M) Tame Valley Viaduct
VolkerFitzpatrick has successfully completed the strengthening and refurbishment of the A38(M) Tame Valley Viaduct on behalf of Birmingham City Council, concluding a programme to protect one of the city's most important transport links.
Carrying around 80,000 vehicles a day, the 620-metre-long structure forms the northern section of the A38 between Birmingham City Centre and Junction 6 of the M6. Despite the complexity of the works, the viaduct remained open to traffic throughout the four year project, ensuring this vital route continued to support journeys into and around the city.
Strengthening a key piece of infrastructure
Constructed in the early 1970s, the 22-span viaduct required significant improvements to ensure its long-term safety, resilience and performance.
The works included strengthening the steel superstructure with new steel plates, undertaking extensive weld repairs, applying a high-performance anti-corrosion coating system and carrying out refurbishment works designed to extend the lifespan of the structure.
To safely deliver the programme while maintaining traffic flow, bespoke high-level access platforms were installed spanning from pier to pier. These enabled the team to work safely above live rail lines, the River Tame, major roads and neighbouring businesses, while keeping the viaduct operational throughout the project.
Delivering lasting social value
Alongside the engineering works, the project generated more than £92 million in social value, creating a lasting legacy for local communities across Birmingham. The team delivered more than 800 hours of educational engagement and over 300 weeks of work experience, while also supporting T-Level students and working closely with schools, colleges and employability groups to provide opportunities for local people.
Community impact was further enhanced through more than £53,000 in charitable donations and over 2,000 volunteer hours. Support was provided to organisations including St Basils, Shaw Trust, Jericho's Equiano Project and Bethel Health and Healing Network, helping to tackle challenges such as homelessness, unemployment and health inequality. Additional initiatives included foodbank donations, garden refurbishment projects, charity fundraising activities and the donation of lifesaving defibrillators.
The project has already received industry recognition, securing success at both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) West Midlands Awards and the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) West Midlands Awards.
"We are extremely proud to mark the successful completion of the Tame Valley Viaduct upgrade. This has been a technically demanding project delivered over live infrastructure in one of the busiest areas of the city. Working closely with Birmingham City Council, our teams have achieved an outstanding engineering result while keeping the viaduct operational throughout."
Deon Scholtz Divisional Director, Infrastructure
