Critical infrastructure contract awarded for multi-million pound pathology lab

Triton Construction has secured the contract to deliver underground civils enabling and infrastructure works for a state-of-the art pathology laboratory at St James’s Hospital, Leeds.

Works comprise large below ground pre-cast concrete ductways and re-enforced transitions to existing service tunnels, all to be installed on a busy live hospital site.

These works are the precursor for the new multi-million pound pathology building, being delivered by main contractor, BAM Construction. It will support hospitals across the region to improve diagnostics for patients and help to meet the growing regional demand for specialist treatment and care.

In February the laboratory, which will also serve hospitals in West Yorkshire and Harrogate, was given the go ahead by the Department of Health and Social Care, which allowed construction to start in April.

The building is expected to be operational in the autumn of 2023 and will allow the trust to incorporate pathology services currently housed in outdated facilities in the Old Medical School at LGI as well as some of those delivered from St James’s University Hospital.

Triton moved on site last month to start works in providing serviceable underground routes from the existing Gledhow building to the new laboratory. The route will house high voltage power cables and pneumatic ducts that will send samples from one building to another.

Paul Clarkson, managing director at Triton Construction, said: “This is a specialist project for which we are highly experienced to deliver.

“Our team is creating a four metre wide, 1.8 metre deep underground network of systems that can connect to existing provisions and includes the installation of around 190 ducts covering 200 metres each pre-cast segment weighing over two tonnes.

“We are also installing robust traffic management measures during the course of the project due to high footfall and vehicle movements.”

Mike Bacon, programme director for the Building the Leeds Way Programme – which also includes the construction of new adults’ and children’s hospitals at Leeds General Infirmary – said: “The works are a critical infrastructure element for preparing the site for the new pathology laboratory.

“Seeing the contractors moving onto the site to start works for the building of the new laboratory at St James’s Hospital is a real boost for everyone and the beginning of exciting times in the development of healthcare for Leeds and the wider region.”

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