Okehampton Interchange opens: 164,000 new passengers anticipated
Okehampton Interchange, the Dartmoor Line’s newest station, has begun serving passengers, improving connections between West Devon, Torridge and North Cornwall with Exeter and beyond. The station is expected to support 164,000 passenger journeys in its first 12 months, strengthening local access to jobs, education, healthcare and wider opportunities. Octavius delivered this scheme as design and […]
Wentbridge Viaduct: Managing extended scope
Wentbridge Viaduct is a grade II listed structure and one of National Highways’ top ten most important structures on the strategic road network. Opened in 1961 the viaduct carries the A1T, which carries in excess of 86,000 vehicles per day, over the Went Valley. A three-span post tensioned prestressed box girder bridge, the viaduct comprises […]
A1331 Link Road Phase One: Success raises hope for Phase Two prospects
With some projects it feels like the stars are aligned. Pretty much everything goes ahead as planned and when challenges arise they are overcome, without friction, by allowing common purpose to guide the solution. Delivering the first phase of the A1331 Link Road was one of those projects. But luck was not a factor, forging […]
Bushey PSU: Achieving unprecedented schedule
Upgrading the West Coast Mainline’s (WCML) power supply at Bushey, Hertfordshire, has presented a long-standing challenge. Access to the line, where local commuter services run on slow lines alongside a busy section of the mainline, has been the principal challenge. In spring 2026 Octavius successfully delivered an ambitious solution to the stubborn challenge at Bushey […]
Manchester Victoria North East Gateway: All about people and community
Victoria North East Gateway is a package of road, cycle and walking route enhancements that improve access to Manchester city centre, public transport and provide connections to walking and cycling schemes in other parts of the city. Octavius is Manchester City Council’s, Principal contractor for the project, which marks the company’s first win on the Manchester City Council […]
Salford University car park: a modular solution supporting campus growth
What we delivered The Octavius and SiderPark modular system delivered a fast, flexible, and cost-effective solution for the University of Salford, transforming an underused area into 462 parking spaces, nearly doubling existing capacity. Around 30% cheaper than traditional pre-cast concrete construction, the system enabled the university to increase parking provision quickly and with minimal disruption. […]
We Believe in Rail, Which is Why We Love Delivering AfA Projects
The National Travel Survey 2021 found that people with a ‘mobility difficulty’ made on average 2 rail trips per year. Others, without mobility issues, made an average of 14 trips per year (Department for Transport). What does that usage gap tell us? Essentially it tells us there are millions of people who feel excluded from […]
Better connected, fully Integrated, regionally led: Transport priorities to the fore at UKREiiF
The correlation between quality, interconnected transport infrastructure and growth was central to discussions at this year’s UKREiiF event, as Lucy Prior, Octavius’ Business Development Lead for Rail explains. “Connectivity is key. If you make journeys easier and connect people better, the product is so much more deliverable. Without connectivity, places struggle to attract development, even […]
Official opening of Long Stratton bypass celebrated
Long Stratton bypass is officially open, cutting long-standing congestion in the Norfolk town and – with 1,800 new homes planned for the area – future-proofing the local road network. The project to construct the bypass was successfully delivered by Octavius. Valued at £47 million, the new road was classified as priority infrastructure by client Norfolk […]
Why More Delivery Doesn’t Have To Mean More Disruption
Access for All (AfA) represents a transformation for people who previously found the rail network difficult or intimidating to use. The freedom and opportunity offered by rail travel is now something they too can enjoy. Broadening access to rail services through upgraded stations comes with plenty of challenges as Lloyd Jefferson-Smith, Octavius’ Head of Rail […]
A more future proof way of stabilising the M25 roads with carbon fibre rods
Traditionally the M25 road network, originally built in the 1970s has been stabilised using steel plates. However, during strengthening works on the east bridge of the Swanley Interchange, the Octavius team recognised that this approach wouldn’t be a suitable long term stabilisation solution due to the road’s significant deterioration and to ensure its future resilience […]
Frameworks – Effectively managing scope changes and unforeseen conditions
Framework programmes will inevitably at some point be subject to scope changes and/or unforeseen conditions. In this feature Jamie Harrison Delivery Director Highways at Octavius discusses how with the right culture and collaborative approach these issues do not necessarily have to impact key project milestones and capital investment budgets.Jamie highlights that it starts with a […]