Corus railway team in vital fixture at Arsenal

Railway experts at Corus are providing a vital service as Arsenal FC builds its new 60,000 seater stadium at Ashburton Grove in London.

The £400 million stadium - designed by HOK Sport is being constructed on a 17-acre site between the East Coast Main Line and London's Canonbury and Moorgate railway lines. The work includes two bridges spanning the Canonbury and Moorgate lines in Islington.

Corus provides an 'Asset Protection Management' service for Network Rail and is working closely with the rail company, Arsenal FC and its contractors to ensure no further risk is imported onto the railway as a result of the construction works.

Tom Storey, Associate Director at Corus explained: "Corus is working with all the parties to vet the proposals both permanent and temporary works and to vet and accept method statements. We will have a site presence during key works and we will manage track possessions More than 1000 construction employees are working on the new stadium which is expected to be complete for the start of the 2006/7 football season."

The principal contractor is Sir Robert McAlpine, with Watson Structural Steel Ltd responsible for the construction of the roof of the stadium with its 3000 tonnes of tubular steel and of the bridges. The central piers and temporary trestles for the bridges have been constructed on Network Rail property with several 41-hour abnormal possessions being used to complete the works. Overhead line modifications have also been needed to facilitate bridge construction over the railway.