From the pioneering railways and viaducts of the Victorian era constructed by our founder, we continue to build on our legacy of infrastructure projects with the delivery of today’s essential highway and rail networks.
We are focussed on building long term collaborative relationships with clients from across the infrastructure sector.
Our ingrained civil engineering competence and collaborative culture, combined with a strong focus on people, enables us to deliver successful outcomes for our clients.
Projects are delivered with long-term supply chain partners alongside our own civil engineering workforce, plant and equipment and supported by our in house design and digital construction teams.
We want our proposition to be recognised as unique in civil engineering, where clients find us easy to do business with and supply chain partners want to engage with us.
Tony Gates Managing Director, Civil Engineering
We are currently working with National Highways as a Delivery Integrated Partner on its Regional Delivery Partnership. In joint venture with Amey we are delivering the A533 Expressway Bridge Replacement Scheme in the North West. This follows the successful completion of Junction 19 on the M6 which included a new over-bridge in the centre of the existing roundabout to improve safety and the environment by reducing congestion.
As part of the Align joint venture with Bouygues Travaux Publics and VolkerFitzpatrick, we are working with High Speed 2 to deliver the Colne Valley Viaduct and Chilterns Tunnel section of Phase 1.
In 2023 we joined Sellafield's Programme and Project Partners (PPP) to deliver the Groundworks and Concrete Structures (Civils) framework at the site in Cumbria.
We have a proud history of delivering projects in the nuclear industry. Our experience ranges from the design and construction of the UK’s original fleet of nuclear power stations, through a continued presence at Sellafield between 1984 and 2017 to the provision of civil design services for new Nitrogen Plants at Hunterston B, Hinkley Point B and Dungeness B.
Align, our joint venture with Bouygues Travaux Publics and VolkerFitzpatrick is currently delivering the C1 package of HS2.
Find out moreAmeySRM, our joint venture with Amey is delivering the A533 Expressway Bridge Replacement scheme in the North West of the UK.
Find out moreWe are responsible for the routine operation and maintenance of 90km of the A74(M) from Millbank to Carlisle, with our team working in all weathers to keep the road open
Find out moreFor more than 20 years we have been responsible for the improvement, operation and maintenance of this 120km stretch of the A19 in the North East.
Find out more
Sir Robert McAlpine has joined the Programme and Project Partners (PPP) to deliver the Groundworks and Concrete Structures (Civils) framework in the drive to support transformation in project delivery at the Sellafield site in Cumbria. This framework will span the next 17 years.
Align is a joint venture of three international and privately-owned infrastructure companies; Bouygues Travaux Publics, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick, a subsidiary of VolkerWessels. Our combined experience, both in the UK and worldwide, in delivering high-profile infrastructure projects safely, on time and on budget, has long established our reputation.
Amey Sir Robert McAlpine is a joint venture between infrastructure support service provider Amey and Sir Robert McAlpine.
Rachel is involved in every stage of a scheme, liaising with design teams, stakeholders, supply chain partners and client.
“I‘m an advocate for SME’s, upskilling and guiding our supply chain to ensure our industry goes from strength to strength. Collaboration is key to success, in procurement we work hand in hand with our client, supply chain and other Tier 1 contractors. I feel an enormous sense of responsibility to ensure that best practice and value for money is achieved.”
Rachel started her career two decades ago as a temp and now works on some of the UKs most iconic structures.
“I love being on site, watching what I have procured growing into a real structure, the sense of pride and achievement is phenomenal.”
Tom has worked at Sir Robert McAlpine since leaving University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
“I was attracted to Sir Robert McAlpine by the iconic projects that the business undertakes and because there was a great deal of work taking place in Manchester.”
Tom spent two years in a site-based engineering role and recently joined the civil engineering work winning team where he is looking to broaden his knowledge and experience.
“In my role I get to see the vast experience that the company has and our approach to sustainability, health, safety and welfare, inclusion and social value."
Robert joined Sir Robert McAlpine four years ago to build on his engineering knowledge, be involved in a diverse range of complex projects and to continuously be challenged in the work environment.
“The family feel of the organisation was apparent from day one. Within my engineering role I’m involved in the technical review, refinement and value engineering of projects, with input at all stages from preconstruction to delivery on site.”
Robert values his role and the flexibility it offers, with each day being different and with new challenges always around the corner.
Katy joined us as a graduate engineer after completing her master’s degree in civil engineering.
She was drawn to Sir Robert McAlpine by the catalogue of iconic projects we’ve delivered and the family values that are embedded throughout the business.
Katy’s role involves looking after our subcontractors, helping solve issues and making sure work is completed to a high standard.
“I like the integrated team approach and the fact that there is always a new challenge,” says Katy. “I’m constantly learning from the experienced team around me and I love sharing my career with the next generation of engineers through STEM activities.”
With help from our 2021 and 2022 Strong Foundations Grants, the Knutsford Scout Hut has now officially opened.
Family Memorable Day success for a 2022 Strong Foundation Grant awardee, Jump Children’s Charity.
As our A533 Expressway bridge team celebrated their topping out, we are proud to announce the recipients of our Strong Foundation Grants from our Civils division.
The project was delivered five months early and under budget. Reconfiguring the scheme to a compact motorway design reduced its environmental impact and the project cost, while careful design and efficient realignment of the carriageways avoided the need for contraflow. A resource efficient design solution was also developed which enabled road planing materials normally disposed of as hazardous waste to be recycled.
From the design and construction of the UK’s original fleet of nuclear power stations, through a continued presence at Sellafield between 1984 and 2017, to the provision of civil design services for Sizewell B, Hunterston B, and Hinkley B, we have a proud history of delivering projects in the nuclear industry.
Our innovative £43 million project for National Highways to tackle congestion at one of the busiest motorway junctions in the North West. The new junction arrangements include a brand new ‘through-about’ bridge through the junction roundabout and over the motorway – one of the first of its kind in the country.
Delivered eight months early, completion of the M74 south of Glasgow was one of Scotland’s largest infrastructure schemes. More than 2.1 million tonnes of recycled material was used in construction of the 8km motorway. Engineering challenges included push-launching two 200m long bridge sections over roads and rail tracks including the West Coast Main Line, and construction of a bridge over the Clyde.
Since our first involvement at the airport in the 1980s we have delivered a number of major contracts, applying our understanding of airport operations to minimise disturbance to staff and passengers. Projects include the 46m high Emirates Control Tower, extension and modification of the main terminal building, along with pier alterations and the upgrading of fuel farm facilities.
For more than 20 years we have been responsible for the improvement, operation and maintenance of a 120km stretch of the A19 in the North East. Ongoing work includes bridge inspection, maintenance, and strengthening and parapet maintenance upgrades, to incident attendance, road resurfacing/strengthening and routine/cyclic road maintenance and winter maintenance.
We are responsible for the operation and maintenance of 90km of the A74(M)/M74 from the Scottish border at Gretna to J12 at Millbank. As well as inspecting and maintaining 137 structures along the route, including bridges, underpasses, culverts and rail bridges, we undertake a wide range of maintenance, including winter maintenance and repair work. The team also responds to traffic accidents and incidents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Volunteers from our M6 ROM team partnered with Heidelberg to upgrade Lockerbie Ice Rink’s car park and footpath, helping the beloved community hub recover from the impact of rising energy costs.
The Colne Valley Viaduct becomes Britain's longest rail bridge after Align JV reaches this major milestone for HS2.
Congratulations to our AmeySRM team, who have been recognised with two prestigious accolades at the CIHT North West Awards.
Mike Hickson, Sir Robert McAlpine’s newly appointed Managing Director of Defence, shares his vision for the sector and his ambitions for the year ahead.
Built 125 years apart, the Glenfinnan and Colne Valley viaducts demonstrate that a passion for engineering excellence and a pioneering approach to construction remain our enduring trademarks.
On 6th June, we celebrate the 80th Anniversary of a military operation which changed the face of Europe forever.
AmeySRM - M6 junction 19 Improvement scheme
HS2 engineers build UK's longest railway bridge over a road
Progression at the Chalfont St Peter vent shaft
Connecting the country: North West region
National Highways - M6 J19
M6 J19 - Installation of the bridge beams (animation)
A533 Expressway bridge reaches key milestone
In his latest opinion article for New Civil Engineer, Tony Gates, our Managing Director for Civil Engineering, explores the value of Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) for project delivery.
The current infrastructure investment programme offers a chance to enhance all our lives.
Tony Gates, Executive Managing Director of Infrastructure at Sir Robert McAlpine, writes in Nuclear Future magazine about the UK's journey towards net zero in nuclear.
Mulberry Harbour
Glenfinnan Viaduct, West Highlands
Glasgow Subway
M1 Motorway, Markfield–Sawley, Leicestershire
Mersey Tunnel, Birkenhead
Tilbury Dock, London
North Sea Oil Platforms, Ardyne Point
Jubilee Line Extension, London
Bradwell Power Station, Essex
Torness Power Station, East Lothian
Newcastle Airport Control Tower
Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed to a £1bn groundworks and concrete structures framework at the Sellafield nuclear decommissioning site.
A major scheme to replace the A533 Expressway bridge has reached a key milestone after the new bridge was lifted into position.
A complex junction motorway junction improvement involves building a “through-about” above the M6.
