Engineering Graduates see ‘The Hard’ work
Graduate engineers from across the country are paying a visit to a multi-million pound construction scheme at The Hard interchange in Portsmouth this week.
Creating a new transport interchange is the first step in a vision to regenerate the area around The Hard which is located between the world-famous Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf Quays. It will set the benchmark for the area and the tone for an impressive new gateway to Portsmouth. The new interchange will better link buses, trains and ferries; make the site easier to navigate; enable pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles to share the space more safely; and make the area look more welcoming.
19 graduate engineers from Osborne will visit the Emirates Spinnaker Tower to hear more about the scheme with an impressive view of the construction site. They will then go on site to see how work has progressed since it started last autumn.
The busy transport interchange is used daily by people accessing buses, trains and ferries to the Isle of Wight and Gosport. While the work is taking place a temporary bus interchange is continuing to operate at the front of the site and access to the ferry terminals and train station is maintained. This, and the fact that the majority of the site is situated on a platform over the sea, presents many challenges.
As part of Osborne’s graduate scheme they offer visits to construction sites they are working on to broaden their knowledge of different projects. They also support all graduates through ICE (Institute of Civil Engineers) development in the aim to produce as many chartered and incorporated engineers as possible.
Jack Cottrell, Trainee Engineer at Osborne, said “The redevelopment of The Hard is an excellent focus for Osborne’s first graduate day of 2016. Hosting the day will be a great opportunity to share experiences and innovative methods used on the scheme, to ensure continuous development within the engineering profession.”
Anna Limburn, project manager at Portsmouth City Council, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer graduate engineers the opportunity to view the site from the equally unique location of the Emirates Spinnaker Tower and learn more about the scheme.”