Welcome to the Llanfoist to Abergavenny Active Travel Bridge and Links August newsletter edition.

Upcoming Community Engagement Events
Balfour Beatty is pleased to invite local residents to two upcoming in person, community engagement events, providing an opportunity to learn more about the project and speak directly with members of the project team.

Both events will be held at Abergavenny Methodist Church, Castle Street, and are free to attend. To find out more or register your interest, please email aats@balfourbeatty.com.

We look forward to welcoming you, answering your questions, and hearing your views on the project.

Community Engagement Event | Thursday 1 October from 11.30am to 14.30pm
Residents are invited to come along, meet the project team and learn more about how the scheme is progressing. Display boards will showcase the latest construction updates, the programme of upcoming works, project timescales and key milestones, helping residents understand what to expect in the months ahead.

Whether you have questions, would like further information, or simply want to understand more about the project, our team will be on hand to help. Complimentary tea and coffee will be available, creating an informal setting for conversation and discussion.

Winter Project Update Session | Thursday 26 November at 14.30pm
As the project enters its winter phase, this 30-minute session will provide an update on planned activities over the coming months and explain why progress on site may appear limited during this period. Balfour Beatty’s Site Manager will outline the programme for 2027, including when construction activities are expected to resume and the key milestones planned for the year ahead.

Whether you have been following the project closely or would simply like to understand what to expect over the winter months, we would be delighted to welcome you and answer any questions you may have.

Construction Update | August Progress
Since our last newsletter, significant progress has been made on the bridge pier foundation works. The installation of the cofferdam sheet piles, as outlined in the previous update, has now been completed and excavation activities within the cofferdam have commenced to facilitate construction of the caisson foundation.

The cofferdam forms a temporary watertight enclosure around the work area, enabling excavation and construction activities to take place in a controlled environment while protecting the works from groundwater ingress and surrounding ground instability. Following successful completion of the cofferdam, work began on the installation of the caisson, which will form the permanent foundation for the bridge pier.

Caisson Insulation
The first stage of the caisson construction involved the installation of a reinforced concrete guide collar. This structure provides both positional and vertical alignment control during sinking operations, ensuring the precast caisson segments are accurately guided into the ground throughout construction. The guide collar also acts as the reaction structure for the hydraulic jacking system used to advance the caisson.

Three hydraulic jacking rams have been positioned equally around the circumference of the caisson. These rams apply a controlled downward force to the precast concrete caisson rings as excavation progresses from within the centre of the shaft. By removing material from inside the caisson, the self-weight of the structure, assisted by the hydraulic jacks, enables the caisson to sink progressively into the ground while maintaining alignment and minimising disturbance to the surrounding soils.

This controlled “excavate and jack” process will continue as each 1-metre deep precast concrete ring segment is installed. A total of thirteen ring segments will be placed to achieve the required foundation depth of approximately 13 metres. Throughout the sinking operation, regular survey checks will be undertaken to monitor verticality and positional tolerances, ensuring the caisson remains within the project’s specified construction limits.

Once the final design depth has been reached, the base and shaft will be prepared for the installation of reinforcement steel and in-situ concrete. These works will complete the monopole foundation, providing the robust substructure required to support the new bridge pier and associated loads throughout the lifespan of the structure.

Social Value | Work Experience Spotlight
In August, the project team welcomed a local student for a work placement, providing a great opportunity to gain first had into the construction and infrastructure industry.

During the placement, the student spent time with a range of project disciplines, gaining an insight into the opportunities and challenges involved in delivering a major active travel scheme.

The placement gave him the chance to spend time with colleagues on the project, understand how projects are planned and delivered, and see how safety, engineering, environment and community engagement come together on site.

The placement, which we hope is the first of many, supports the projects employment and skills commitments by giving young people a meaningful insight into careers in construction and infrastructure. 

The student will also receive a national bronze Industrial Cadet Award on completion of the placement, recognising the learning and experience gained through his time with the team.

Supporting Abergavenny Food Festival
The project is proud to be supporting this year’s Abergavenny Food Festival, helping one of the town’s most popular community events run smoothly while creating opportunities to engage with residents and visitors.

Support includes the donation of event signage, the use of Castle Meadow for parking, and the provision and funding of portable toilets to support festival operations.

As part of the festival programme, Balfour Beatty will also be attending the Community Space on both days of the event, providing an opportunity for visitors to find out more about the project and ask questions about ongoing and upcoming works.

The project team will be available on Saturday 19^th September from 9:30am to 12:00pm and on Sunday 20^th September from 9:30am to 11:45am. If you’re attending the festival, we’d love for you to come and say hello.

To buy tickets please book them on the website: Tickets – Abergavenny Food Festival