The Lawrence Hill Step-Free Access project will make a busy suburban Bristol station accessible for users with mobility challenges and easier to navigate for rail users with children, heavy luggage or shopping.
The design/build project, delivered by Octavius, sees a new lift providing step-free access to platform 2 for the first time. A new deck connects the lift shaft to the main road bridge entrance to platform 2. A new flight of stairs will provide alternative platform access. During the works a temporary footbridge from platform 1 will provide platform 2 access.
Aligning stakeholders
The project, funded by West of England Combined Authority, typifies the accessibility investments being made by many combined authorities in regional rail infrastructure. Like most combined authority and step free access projects Lawrence Hill demands that Octavius integrate and align the needs of multiple influential stakeholders with the project’s goals.
Alongside the West of England Combined Authority, key stakeholders include station owner Network Rail, Bristol City Council, train operating company GWR; as well as National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West) to facilitate power upgrades for the lift; and the local Lidl – by making its car park available to the team for deliveries the supermarket’s support is essential.
Two features present particular challenges. Lawrence Hill is a busy urban area, making site access difficult. Materials deliveries are restricted to Saturday nights to minimise disruption for homes and businesses close to the station. Among the most carefully planned deliveries will be the fully clad, pre-assembled lift shaft – pre-assembly will help to cut the programme schedule.
Intelligent phasing critical
The second challenge is that the vast majority of the work is on a single, narrow island platform. This, in combination with the need to keep the station open and its users safe, restricts the ability to undertake multiple activities simultaneously, leading to a much more linear, sequential pattern of work than is typical. Intelligent phasing is therefore critical for keeping to programme.
More than 350,000 people use Lawrence Hill annually, travelling on the Severn Beach Line. Completion of the project to make the station fully accessible is due in Spring 2027.
Lawrence Hill is part of a national portfolio of more than 35 Access for All (AfA) and step-free access projects, making Octavius, arguably, one of the UK’s most experienced AfA delivery partners.
To learn more about the ways in which Octavius is supporting the transport aspirations of combined authorities, and their constituent councils, visit our Integrated Regional Transport resources.
Talk to us
Contact us at transformative@octavius.co.uk if you want to know more about the ways in which we can support regional transport strategies.