Barhale and McNicholas win Olympic utility contracts

Barhale Construction and utility firm McNicholas have scored key contracts to provide major utilities to the Olympic Park site.

Barhale will design and construct a primary sewer and pumping station for the site that will collect, convey and discharge foul flows from the main venues and buildings.

McNicholas will provide water, gas, telecoms ducts and electrical civils across the park.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said it expected cost savings by awarding four of the utility contracts to McNicholas who would deliver the works through a common utilities trench across the park.

ODA director of infrastructure and utilities Simon Wright said the utility networks would serve the long-term regeneration of the site as well as the Games.

He said: “They show that we are planning Games and legacy together from the very beginning.

“The utilities networks will form the backbone of the world-class venues we will construct in the Olympic Park. Bringing first-class companies on-board to deliver this essential infrastructure is a significant step forwards and with the majority of the utilities contracts now awarded we are firmly on track.”

The remaining utility contracts to be awarded are for a wind turbine to deliver renewable energy to the site; and contracts to own and operate gas, water and wastewater networks serving the Olympic Park and Stratford City site.

The ODA said work is underway to remove, divert or disconnect disused pipes and cables across Olympic Park and the site of an electrical substation has been cleared.

The construction of the new utilities networks and infrastructure will begin in the summer, to coincide with the start of work on the main venues.