VolkerFitzpatrick to construct Crossrail academy

VolkerFitzpatrick has been awarded the contract to construct the new Crossrail Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA). Work on the academy, which will be built at Aldersbrook Sidings close to Ilford town centre in London, will commence next month. The contract to build TUCA is worth approximately GBP 6m. The Department of Business Innovation and Skills have provided GBP 5m of funding for TUCA. Aside from VolkerFitzpatrick, the other companies invited to tender their proposals were: Laing O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Vinci Construction UK, Mansell Construction Services and ROK Building.

TUCA will provide training to at least 3,500 people and, according to a Crossrail press release ‘aims to address the lack of people with the necessary skills to work on Crossrail and other tunnelling projects across the UK.’

Terry Morgan, Chairman of Crossrail has emphasised the importance of TUCA, stating that ‘‘the volume of tunnelling and underground construction work taking place in the UK over the next decade is unprecedented.’’