The landscape at Brent Cross West changed once again over the bank holiday weekend as the project entered a new phase of construction which will see the overbridge completed and works on the station concourse begin.

Structural steelwork was completed on the overbridge, which had been installed in two parts over the Mayday bank holiday and then at the beginning of August. The new steelwork gives a glimpse of what the final station will look like with its bold anthracite grey and red orange design.

The bridge will open at the same time as the station and will provide access for pedestrians and cyclists across the Midland Main Line for the first time since this part of the line was built 150 years ago.

Teams also began lifting in the main floor beams of the station concourse, along with the upper and lower columns and the roof beams. The beams reach up to 13.5m in length and weigh up to three tonnes each.

Piling work was also completed on the station’s fast platform. This involves pumping concrete below the ground so that a reinforced cage can be put in place to house the future foundations.

In another milestone, the removal of the last parts of the track, known as the ‘scissors’, marked the end of several years of planning, designing and delivering of works in the Brent Cross area, to make way for the new station which will open next year.

Throughout September, work will continue to install the remaining steelwork at the concourse, before lift shafts and escalators are installed, creating step-free access throughout the station for passengers.

Access scaffolding has been installed over the last week to provide staff access to the new overbridge. This will be followed by the two temporary bridges being removed in mid-September, while a loading bay is being introduced to ferry materials to the platform areas.

Other key works which have taken place in recent months include the electrification of the overhead lines, the removal of rail lines that are no longer needed, and existing railway lines being moved to make way for the new platforms.

Gordon Hunt, project manager for VolkerFitzpatrick, described the work as “crucial”.

He said: “The start of the concourse construction, and bridging the mainline for the first time, is a major milestone for the project, and the success of this recent blockade shows the continued efforts made by all involved.

“The team can start to construct the first section of the concourse slab, which – similar to the overbridge – will provide work access from the east to west platforms, across the mainline, for the first time since this part of the network was built 150 years ago.”

The station programme is being managed by Mace on behalf of Barnet Council, built by VolkerFitzpatrick, and designed by engineering professional services consultancy WSP with architects Chapman Taylor.

Brent Cross West and the associated rail infrastructure is one of the first rail projects in England to be delivered entirely by a local authority who are directing construction and working in partnership with Network Rail and the Department for Transport.

The new station is at the heart of the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme. It will provide a gateway to Brent Cross Town, a new neighbourhood for Barnet that will bring thousands of new homes, jobs, improved schools, leisure, retail and cultural facilities to the area.

Read more about the new station here.