Newport City Council has announced a major expansion of its road repair and resurfacing programme as part of a renewed effort to address deteriorating road conditions across the city. The latest phase of the council’s Fixing Our Roads initiative will see additional highways improvement schemes delivered over the next two years following increased investment commitments in the authority’s 2026/27 budget. More than 30 major routes across Newport have already undergone resurfaci

National Highways has launched a trial of a new solar-powered “talking” compacting litter bin along the A303 in the South West as part of efforts to reduce roadside waste and cut maintenance costs. The smart bin has been installed in a layby near Upottery in Devon and is the first of its kind to be introduced by National Highways in the region. Officials say the technology could eventually be rolled out more widely across England’s strategic road network if the trial proves s

Nearly seven years after Hammersmith Bridge was closed to vehicles over serious structural safety concerns, uncertainty continues to surround one of London’s most politically charged infrastructure problems. Despite years of engineering studies, public debate and funding negotiations, there is still no confirmed timetable for the bridge to fully reopen to traffic. The Grade II-listed suspension bridge has remained closed to cars, buses and heavy vehicles since 2019 after eng

Pressure is increasing for the construction of a new River Severn crossing near Welshpool after repeated damage to a historic bridge caused major disruption for local communities and businesses. Campaigners have now formally presented a petition to Powys County Council calling for funding support to develop a replacement crossing at Llandrinio, where the existing Grade I listed bridge has faced a series of structural incidents in recent years. The petition was organised by lo

Transport for London (TfL) is exploring the future role of Heathrow Express services as key operating agreements linked to the airport rail connection approach expiry in 2028, raising the possibility of the Elizabeth line taking over the route. The discussion forms part of TfL’s wider submission to the Airports National Policy Statement review, where the organisation argues that major improvements to public transport capacity will be essential if Heathrow Airport expands furt

Motorists travelling through west London are being advised to prepare for continued weekend disruption on the A40 Westway as Transport for London (TfL) carries out essential maintenance works near the Westway Roundabout. The programme, which involves the replacement of safety-critical expansion joints, is now entering its final stages and is expected to be completed by 1 June. As part of the works, westbound sections of the A40 will continue to close during selected weekends,

The UK government has confirmed that HS2 services are unlikely to begin operating before 2036, while revised forecasts now place the total cost of the high-speed rail project at between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the updated figures in Parliament, describing the project as an example of repeated mismanagement and failed oversight rather than the symbol of national ambition it was originally intended to become. Under the rev

Avanti West Coast is set to temporarily reduce its timetable this summer after the Department for Transport requested measures aimed at lowering operational costs during quieter travel periods. The rail operator plans to remove almost 12% of its weekday services between 20 July and 28 August as part of what it describes as a “demand-led timetable” trial. Under the temporary changes, 38 daily services will be withdrawn from routes linking London with Birmingham, Liverpool and

Transport for London (TfL) has awarded M Group a major contract to maintain bridges and civil structures across the London Underground network under a deal that could run for up to eight years. The agreement, which began in April 2026, covers planned and reactive maintenance works across a wide range of structural assets and has an initial term of five years, with an option to extend through to 2034. Under the contract, M Group will be responsible for maintaining critical inf

A competing proposal for Heathrow Airport’s expansion has gained support from several major aviation organisations, setting the stage for a renewed debate over how the UK’s busiest airport should grow in the coming decades. The alternative scheme, backed by the Arora Group and promoted through Heathrow West Limited (HWL), proposes delivering a third runway in two phases rather than through a single large-scale development. Supporters argue the approach could reduce costs, min

Engineering services group Renew Holdings has expanded its presence in the UK energy sector through the acquisition of Electricity Distribution Engineering Services (EDES), a specialist in high-voltage network design. The deal, worth up to £9 million, is expected to enhance the capabilities of Renew’s Excalon division as demand continues to grow across the electricity transmission and distribution market. EDES specialises in the design of overhead and underground electricity

Southern Gas Networks (SGN) has selected 16 contractors to support a major long-term programme aimed at upgrading ageing gas infrastructure across southern England, with the framework expected to deliver around £1 billion of work over the coming years. The appointments form part of SGN’s GD3 Repex Tier 1 framework, which will focus on replacing and strengthening sections of the gas distribution network while improving reliability and future resilience across the region. Sever

Holcim UK has supplied more than 35,000 tonnes of construction materials for the resurfacing of the main runway at London Luton Airport as part of an £18 million airfield infrastructure programme. The project was delivered in partnership with Belfast-based contractor Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure and involved the supply of approximately 28,000 tonnes of aggregates from Holcim’s Bardon Hill quarry in Leicestershire, alongside a further 7,000 tonnes of sand sourced from Grove

Belfast International Airport has officially opened the first phase of its £100 million redevelopment programme, marking a significant milestone in a long-term investment aimed at expanding capacity, improving passenger experience and modernising airport operations. The newly completed phase includes a major terminal extension featuring upgraded security facilities, enlarged passenger circulation areas and an enhanced retail offering at Northern Ireland’s busiest airport. Par

A major investment programme aimed at upgrading Blackpool’s electricity infrastructure is progressing, with SP Electricity North West preparing to begin construction of a new 33kV substation as part of a wider £7.5 million scheme across the town. The new substation, which will be built on land near Blackpool Airport, is expected to play a key role in supporting future development linked to the Silicon Sands masterplan within the Blackpool Enterprise Zone. As part of the proje

Ofwat has launched a consultation on a new monitoring and assessment framework designed to track how water companies deliver the significant investment commitments set out for AMP8. The consultation will remain open until 18 June and forms part of the regulator’s efforts to strengthen oversight during what is expected to be the sector’s largest ever investment programme. The framework will measure how each company progresses against its agreed delivery plan, covering major i