Dick Green helps the Queen blow open some gates

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have just opened The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee White Water Course. The gates were setup to open with a bang, and guess who was on hand to set the charges.

Old friends Dick Green of Index and SES jointly made the crowds day as they blew open the doors to the new course with the button pushed by HRH. What followed was 90,000 gallons of water pouring down the course.

The course will now be put to good use in the run up and during the Olympics, and hopefully will continue to be popular for years to come training our next set of professional sportsmen.


Source: BBC

M4 closed due to cracks in steel

The Boston Manor Vidauct, a section of the M4 motorway between London and Heathrow (junctions 1-3), has been completely closed to traffic since the weekend.

The reason is hairline cracks that have appeared in senstive sections of the supporting steel structure. By sensitive we assume they mean if they aren't dealt with the road could collapse.

Heavy goods vehicles haven't been able to use the road since March, but now all traffic has been diverted as vital repair work is carried out. The earliest the motorway could re-open is Thursday.

The road has been closed now because the repairs need to be done before the Olympics start when the M4 will play a vital role in keeping traffic moving. Over the next few days plates will be bolted to the decking along these senstive areas of the M4, in a bid to stop any further cracks from appearing and shore up those that already exist.

Source: BBC News

Earls Court may be demolished after Olympics

One of the most well-known venues for exhibitions and music events may be facing demolition once the 2012 Olympics are over.

Earls Court in London has been visited by most people attending an exhibition of some sort, but now it looks likely to disappear as re-development is planned.

Demolition of the site would not see a new exhibition centre erected, however. Revenue has fallen and ownership has passed to developers Capital and Counties. The likely plan is to turn the site into 8,000 homes.

Such a plan cannot happen until after the 2012 Olympics as Earls Court is being used for the volleyball tournament.

There's still a couple of years to go until the Olympics though, so a lot could happen and Earls Court may be saved. It is also thought the Olympia exhibition venue will stay and see further development.

Source: New Civil Engineer