Client | BAM Nuttall
Sector | Rail Telecoms Infrastructure
Location | Agar Grove, London Borough of Camden
ADComms was appointed by BAM Nuttall to support the critical infrastructure replacement of Agar Grove Bridge.
The project aimed to restore the bridge’s Active Live Load capacity to 40 tonnes following a failed GRIP 2 structural assessment.
Our role was to manage the safe decommissioning, relocation, and reinstatement of GSM-R and Airwave telecoms systems mounted on the bridge. These systems were vital to rail operations and had to be carefully managed to enable both a temporary footbridge and the installation of the new bridge structure.
This was a highly complex and time-sensitive project, delivered in a constrained urban environment with multiple operational and logistical challenges:
Two live rail corridors (Midland Main Line and Thameslink)
Overhead Line Electrification (OLE) in close proximity
Limited laydown space in a congested city location
Numerous third-party utilities and signalling assets on the bridge
A fixed nine-day blockade window for bridge replacement
ADComms was responsible for the installation, testing, and commissioning of a new 24-core FTN fibre route between key telecoms nodes.
Our scope included:
TETRA System Relocation to St. Augustine’s Trackside Equipment Housing (TEH)
RF Feeder Testing between MTS2 cabinet and TEH
Temporary Relocation of Antenna 1 to accommodate scaffolding access
Permanent Relocation of Antenna 3 due to new bridge canopy obstruction
GSM-R Antenna 1 & 3: Pre-blockade removal, Post-blockade reinstallation, Final repositioning of Antenna 1 to its original location
The project was delivered by a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team, including project managers, engineers, installers, and procurement specialists — all working together to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient delivery.
Key roles included RF testing, scaffold-safe working, antenna repositioning, and material coordination, supported by strong stakeholder engagement and technical assurance.
ADComms successfully delivered the telecoms scope with zero disruption to the main bridge works.
Our ability to execute complex antenna relocations within a tight blockade window directly supported BAM Nuttall’s on-time delivery of the bridge replacement.
“This complex scheme was a huge success and wouldn’t have been without the tremendous efforts by all involved. The removal of the GSM-R Antennas at the start and end of the blockade were undertaken swiftly and safely to ensure follow-up activities were able to take place.”
— BAM Nuttall Project Team
