Sharing our road building expertise with student Sappers

Royal Engineers, known as 'Sappers', are well known for organisational, planning and engineering skills.

There's no better way for student military engineers to learn than from our industry experts.

Our specialists gave engineers of the future a tour of the new road road and major structures.

They explained the challenges of keeping traffic flowing while upgrading infrastructure on a busy junction.

Staff Sergeant, Will Wicker said:

“Students were able to observe firsthand the various phases of construction, including the minimal traffic management the site required, earthworks and bridge construction. The experience offered them a practical perspective on the engineering challenges and solutions involved in large scale projects like this one.

"The visit was the culmination of their roads phase, providing them with a tangible connection between classroom theory and real-world application. The site visit provided valuable insights into the complexities of major road construction projects.

"I would like to extend our sincere thanks to GRAHAM and National Highways for their hospitality and for providing our students with this invaluable learning opportunity. The insights gained during the visit undoubtedly enhanced their understanding and appreciation of civil engineering in practice.”

National Highways Project Manager, Zachary Pepper said:

“It was great to be able to welcome the Royal Engineers to our construction site, which provided the students with valuable visual representation of the complexities of our major road construction project.”

GRAHAM Project Manager Hugh McNally said:

“We were delighted to welcome the engineers to the scheme. Seeing construction work up close and personal can be a real eye-opener, hopefully this visit has helped bridge the gap between theory and practical application."

The project will bring improved traffic flow and support proposed economic growth in the area. Most of the construction, including four bridges, is off the road network. As a result disruption for the travelling public is minimised as much as possible.

Find out more on our M25 Junction 28 improvements page.