50 new bridge sections and a 350m³ concrete bridge deck will replace the original 1958 bridge structure

On behalf of our customer, Network Rail, Murphy has been hard at work preparing for the replacement of the Greek Street bridge, located in the centre of Stockport, Greater Manchester. The 67-year-old bridge structure carries a roundabout with four approach roads, and beneath the bridge, five electrified railway lines carry trains on the West Coast Main Line from Manchester to London, as well as routes to Chester, Crewe, Sheffield, and the Peak District.

Our team’s preparation of the Greek Street site included the installation of a temporary scaffold bridge, completed over Christmas 2024. The Greek Street roundabout, located on top of the bridge structure, was closed to traffic in March 2025. Our engineers have focused this summer on the temporary diversion of all existing statutory services, such as water and electricity, to ensure local communities have access to necessary services during the work.

From 2 – 22 August, an unprecedented 21-day railway closure will take place. The closure will involve lowering the existing overhead line equipment to track level, cutting and removing the bridge in 130 sections using two 1000-tonne cranes. Subsequently, 50 new bridge sections will be installed, the overhead line equipment reinstated, and 350m³ concrete bridge deck constructed.

After the blockade, waterproofing the structure will take place, followed by statutory service reinstatement into the new structure, removal of the temporary scaffold bridge, and installation of the new carriageway.

Once completed, the new bridge is expected to last 120 years.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • 50 new bridge sections will be installed
  • 350m³ concrete bridge deck
  • Once completed, the new bridge is expected to last 120 years

In the first event of its kind, our Emerging Talent and Development cohorts came together to celebrate their achievements.

On Thursday 26 June, our Emerging Talent and Learning & Development cohorts celebrated the successful completion of their programmes at The Belfry Hotel & Resort in Birmingham.

In the first event of its kind, over 100 graduates, apprentices, Project Leaders and Future Leaders from all corners of the business gathered together for leadership and networking sessions to celebrate their achievements and continue their development journeys.

Sessions on the day included:

  • The Future Leaders participants presenting the results and recommendations of their ESG business challenge to members of the Senior Leadership Team.
  • Project Leaders reviewing key learnings on Stakeholder Management to conclude their final module.
  • Emerging Talent mapping out their futures at Murphy covering additional training and professional progression.

Every attendee also received an award to mark their efforts from John Murphy.

Finally, to round off the event, the attendees were joined by Damian Hughes, of the High Performance Podcast, who gave a fascinating talk on how our reactions to the circumstances around us can impact our success.

Representing all levels of business, those in attendance have stood out as the future of Murphy. We’re excited to see the next steps they take as they help us to fulfil our purpose of improving life by delivering world-class infrastructure.

To find out how you can follow in the footsteps, head to our Careers and Emerging Talent web areas to find the path for you.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • In the first event of its kind, over 100 graduates, apprentices, Project Leaders and Future Leaders from all corners of the business gathered together
  • Attendees represented all levels of business across the UK and Ireland

At Murphy, we strongly believe that the diversity our people bring is a real strength

This year, Murphy’s LGBTQ+ network and allies are celebrating Pride at several events across the country, including Birmingham, Thurrock and Manchester Pride.

Our renowned rainbow-wrapped Pride truck rolled through Birmingham City Centre with colleagues from across Murphy walking alongside. With thousands of people in attendance, the Birmingham Pride Parade is one of the most important events of the Pride period and Murphy is proud to join in celebrating, remembering, and supporting LGBTQ+ people for a seventh consecutive year.

Additionally, our Bouygues – Murphy Joint Venture team attended the second annual Thurrock Pride parade, walking and showing support all the way from The Wharf Pub to the Thameside complex.

Thank you to all our colleagues who gave up their time to organise and support these events. If you’d like to join them in celebrating Pride, we will be walking alongside the Network Rail team at Manchester Pride on Saturday, 23 August.

At Murphy, we strongly believe that the diversity our people bring is a real strength. It broadens our capabilities and increases our offering to the industry. As a business we challenge ourselves to provide a great place to work, where our people can feel secure and comfortable to be themselves, allowing them to develop and thrive in their work. If you’d like to find out more about how to become a part of that workplace, head to our careers page.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Colleagues are celebrating Pride events across the country
  • Our renowned rainbow-wrapped Pride truck rolled through Birmingham City Centre for a seventh consecutive year
  • Colleagues will also be attending Manchester Pride in August

Our Airton Road team were delighted to meet with Minister James Browne, Mayor Baby Pereppadan and Chief Executive Colm Ward alongside other members of South Dublin County Council at the official opening of the project today.

The Airton Road Extension Scheme – delivered by Murphy for South Dublin County Council will greatly improve connectivity for this area around Tallaght Hospital, Technology University Dublin (TUD) and a number of other important public amenities.

This project saw the construction of a new link road from Belgard Road to Cookstown Industrial Estate in Tallaght, Co. Dublin and fulfils an objective of the SDCC County Development Plan, which promotes and supports the regeneration of underutilised industrial areas.

Works included:
·       The construction of approximately 328 m. of a two-way single carriageway road connecting Cookstown Industrial Estate Road to Belgard Road. The Cross sections of a 6.0 metre carriageway, 2.0 metre raised adjacent off-road cycle lanes and 2.5-metre-wide footpaths.
·       The construction of three signal-controlled junctions, Junction of Cookstown Ind. Estate Road with Airton Road Extension, Junction of Airton Road Extension with the entrance into Belgard Retail Park and the Junction of Airton Road Extension and Belgard Road.
·       The construction of associated drainage and culverts.
·       The construction of boundary walls, fencing and access treatment.
·       Associated earthworks and appropriate landscape works.

For more on this project click here.

International Women in Engineering Day promotes the work being carried out by talented engineers around the world.

Now in its twelfth year, International Women in Engineering Day (IWED) plays a vital role in inspiring future generations of engineers to find their place in the industry and enjoy rewarding, lifelong careers.

To recognise the day, we spoke to engineers across the business, who shared their thoughts and experiences on what makes engineering an exciting industry to work in.

Alongside this, colleagues have been taking time out to represent at a number of external IWED events. 

Ahead of the day, colleagues in Ireland attended the Engineers Ireland Women in Engineering Conference. Murphy is a very proud supporter of this annual conference, which celebrates the achievements of women in engineering and provides a platform for connection, inspiration, and progress.

And, on the day itself, colleagues in the UK visited St John’s C of E Primary School in Abram to run a special ‘Breaking Ground – Women in Engineering’ event. In addition to a special presentation by Elizabeth Connolly, who shared her journey into engineering, the pupils were also able to experience some engineering in action thanks to Leon Williams, who brought along one of our excavators.

Murphy has commenced work to construct the largest substation ever built in the UK.

The multimillion-pound contract from National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) will see the construction of a new substation at Uxbridge Moor, which borders NGET’s existing Iver substation in Buckinghamshire, connecting new customers to the electricity network and helping to meet the significant increase in demand for electricity to the west of London.

With its wide-ranging inhouse expertise and direct delivery approach, Murphy will be carrying out the broad scope of works itself – including the construction of a new 400kV substation, a new 132kV substation, ancillary facilities, underground cabling and associated modification works to the 400kV overhead line network to the new 400kV substation. Connection to the new 132kV substation will be via 132kV underground cables.

The scope also consists of a new 1.2km raised access road off the A412 and other associated civil infrastructure, including a new road bridge crossing over River Alder Bourne.

The substation design is gas insulated, this advanced technology will allow the team to reduce the footprint of the proposed site by around 70% compared to a traditional substation design, minimising the impact on the local area and the environment.

Liam Corr, Managing Director of Energy at Murphy, said; “Since 1951 Murphy has been a leading provider of innovative and integrated energy solutions – today we support groundbreaking transmission and distribution projects across the four countries in which we work.

“We are proud to be delivering this project in the UK’s capital and building on our strong working relationship with National Grid to help to ensure energy security for decades to come.”

Laura Mulcahy, project director at National Grid Electricity Transmission, said:

“Our new Uxbridge Moor substation will provide vital access to power for data centres that are at the heart of Britain’s innovation and economic growth. It will enable new jobs and investment in Buckinghamshire, and will support the UK’s digital future.

“Alongside these significant benefits, we are working to keep the substation’s environmental impact to a minimum. By using the latest SF6-free gas-insulated switchgear, we’re reducing the size of this crucial site by around 70%, and ensuring its technology is sustainable and resilient long into the future.”

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Construction of both a new 400kV substation and a new 132kV substation
  • Underground cabling and associated modification works to the 400kV overhead line network to the new substation.
  • Construction of a new 1.2km raised access road off the A412 and a new road bridge crossing over River Alder Bourne

Continued growth and strong operational performance

Murphy is pleased to announce its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2024, reflecting continued growth and strong operational performance, building on the progress achieved in 2023.

Murphy has continued to deliver key critical infrastructure and, just one year out from the company’s 75th anniversary, is well-placed to deliver on its vision of becoming the leading family-owned construction company.

John Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Murphy, commented:

“I’m pleased to share that we’ve delivered another strong year of growth, marked by consistent year-on-year improvements in both our financial results and operational performance, while remaining firmly committed to delivering world-class infrastructure. These achievements reflect the dedication and capability of our people, our continued emphasis on sustainable business practices, and the strength of our customer relationships.

“Throughout 2024, we successfully navigated economic pressures, changes in government policy and inflationary pressures, demonstrating the Group’s resilience. The sector’s significant investments in transportation, water and energy infrastructure, underpins our confidence in the future with Murphy well-positioned to capitalise on the opportunities these investments bring.

“As we look ahead to our 75th anniversary in 2026, our ‘Murphy at 75’ vision, to be the leading family-owned construction business in the regions where we operate, is firmly within sight. Our primary focus remains on achieving long-term, sustainable growth, built on our ability to deliver reliable, high-quality outcomes for our customers and to leave a positive, lasting impact through our work and in the communities we support.”

Key project highlights included:

  • Completing civil works at Oswestry Water Treatment Works for United Utilities, marking significant progress on this critical infrastructure project.
  • Successfully completing tunnelling activities on London Power Tunnels 2 (“LTP2”) as part of our Hochtief Murphy joint venture for National Grid.
  • Delivering significant new stations at both Beaulieu and Cambridge on behalf of Network Rail.
  • Making strong progress on the Twinstead Green Grid Supply Point for National Grid, including installation of the first Super Grid Transformer.
  • Securing the first transportation contract in Ontario with our joint venture partner Kenaidan.

Financial and operational highlights:

  • Revenue reduced by 2% to £1,398m (FY23: £1,421m), reflecting our focus around customer and contract selectivity.  We saw a volume reduction in Canada following the completion of two major projects, although this was offset by our investment in WHC Energy Services in the USA and solid year-on-year growth in both the UK and Ireland, highlighting the strength and resilience of Murphy’s geographically diverse business model.
  • Operating profit increased 11% to £79.6m (2023: £71.7m), driven by strong performance across all areas of the business and a continued focus on operational efficiency and high-quality project delivery.
  • Net cash increased 15% to £400.5m (FY23: £347.1m), supporting ongoing investment in business growth, innovation, and sustainability-focused projects.
  • Employee numbers increased by 5% to 4,060, up from 3,855 in 2023, as Murphy continues to develop talent while creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged workforce.
  • We sustained our Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) at 0.06 as we continued to grow internationally demonstrating a sustained commitment to the highest standards of health and safety across all operations and increased activity levels.

Sustainability highlights:

  • Achieved a 6.1% reduction in carbon emissions versus 2023, culminating in a total reduction of 54% since 2019, marking our achievement of the Murphy at 75 emissions reduction target one year ahead of schedule.
  • Invested £23.0m in state-of-the-art, environmentally conscious plant and equipment across the UK and Ireland in 2024.

Outlook:

  • Continued strong performance during the opening months of 2025 while proactively managing the macroeconomic challenges facing the wider construction sector.
  • Record order book of £5.4bn across the UK, Ireland and North America, a strong balance sheet and the pressing need for infrastructure investment underpins confidence in the future.
  • Industry investment in our chosen sectors  continues, presenting growing opportunities in energy, water and transport, as demonstrated by the recently awarded Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (“ASTI”) programmes for National Grid and SSEN, along with the award of the development phase of the $1 billion Bloor-Yonge Station Capacity Improvement project in Toronto, Canada.
  • Investment in a 40% share of Australia’s Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure, announced on 5 May 2025, marking the latest step in Murphy’s plans to extend its geographical reach whilst remaining focused on the commitment to improve life by delivering world-class infrastructure.
  • Proven success in sectors such as energy security and infrastructure investment, along with continued growth in traditional markets, strengthens confidence in the Group’s strategic direction and long-term growth plans.

You can read the full report here.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Full Year Results for the year ended 31 December 2024
  • Strong, sustained growth driven by continued operational excellence
  • Future confidence underpinned by record £5.4bn order book

Murphy has formed a strategic partnership with Australia-based Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure.

Headquartered in Sydney, Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure was established in 1994 by Mick Boyle and his wife Robin Craig and has grown steadily since then, expanding its operational presence across Australia and New Zealand. 

The business today employs over 800 skilled professionals and enjoyed a record performance in 2024, designing and delivering a range of projects across the utilities, road, rail and energy sectors.

Alongside this shared sector expertise, Murphy and Abergeldie share a proud heritage as family-owned businesses with strong commitments to community engagement and people-focused organisational values.  Both businesses share values of respect, integrity, trust and accountability.

This shared culture and sector expertise positions Murphy well to support Abergeldie on the next stage of its development, enhancing Abergeldie’s capability to deliver larger-scale infrastructure projects while maintaining its independence.

The investment in Abergeldie, a 40% stake in the business, marks the latest step in Murphy’s expansion. Having originally focused on the UK and Ireland since the Group was founded in 1951, Murphy has diversified geographically in to North America, delivering projects across both Canada and the United States. The Group established a presence in Canada in 2014 through a fully integrated joint venture with Surerus Pipeline Inc and expanded into the US with the acquisition of WHC Energy Services in 2023.

The transaction is expected to complete in May.

Commenting on the investment, John Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Murphy, said:

“Having expanded into North America in recent years, this investment marks the latest step in our plans to extend our geographical reach whilst remaining focused on our commitment to improving life by delivering world-class infrastructure.

“I am delighted that we have been able to find a partner who shares so many of the same values as us.

“We are very positive on the outlook for the Australian market and I am looking forward to working with the Abergeldie team to help them deliver on the next exciting stage of their growth plans, building on the great work they have done over the past thirty years.”

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure was established in 1994 by its husband and wife co-founders and is now one of Australia’s leading independent infrastructure contractors with turnover of $676m (AUD) in 2024
  • The transaction will see Murphy acquire a 40% stake in Abergeldie, further diversifying Murphy across the UK, Ireland, North America and now the ANZ region

Plans to deliver a new £32m train station in Golborne have reached a milestone moment.

Wigan Council has given the green light to the planning application for the station and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have appointed a local company to design it.   

Greater Manchester has ambitious plans to bring eight commuter rail lines into the Bee Network by 2028. The new station – which will reconnect Golborne to the railway for the first time in more than 60 years – is part of the city-region’s wider plans to improve connectivity for communities as part of the first fully-integrated transport system outside London.

Planning approval follows hot on the heels of the government giving the go ahead to the station’s outline business case in January, which set out the transformational benefits it will bring to the area as part of the Bee Network.

It means TfGM, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Wigan Council, working with Government, will now develop a full business case and detailed design in 2025.

To deliver this work, TfGM has appointed Golborne-based engineering firm Murphy to develop the final station designs. Subject to approval from government, work is expected to begin in 2026 with the first trains hoped to stop there in 2027.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “This is a significant moment for Greater Manchester, with the approval of the planning application for Golborne station bringing us closer to reconnecting Golborne to the railway network for the first time in more than 60 years.

“Local residents have campaigned tirelessly for the restoration of rail services to Golborne. This approval is a victory for the community and a step towards realising our shared vision for better connectivity, easing congestion on local roads, reducing carbon emissions and supporting economic growth.

“We are committed to moving forward at pace with this project and bringing rail into the Bee Network – making it easier to get around the city-region. To have such a respected partner like Murphy on board to take the station through detailed design is a fantastic result, and we can then move swiftly through to construction. With roots in the community, they understand how better connections will open up access to skilled jobs and opportunities across the city-region while making Golborne an even greater place to live and work.”

Golborne currently has no direct bus, train or tram services to Manchester, so train services would reduce journey times into Manchester city centre by up to 30 minutes. A public consultation in 2024 showed high levels of support for the station proposals, and a planning application was submitted to Wigan Council in November.

The station includes plans for a new accessible two-platform rail station including step-free access throughout, a new hourly service between Wigan and Manchester Victoria and onwards to Stalybridge, an improved town centre car park, and new walking and cycling links to the town centre.

Leader of Wigan Council, Councillor David Molyneux MBE, said: “The Council has worked closely with Transport for Greater Manchester, ensuring the new station will deliver the best for the local community and wider area, and connect Golborne to the rail network for the first time in decades.

“Community wealth building, keeping the local pound in our borough, and supporting our local supply chain is a real priority for us and I am delighted that a local, Golborne-based company has been appointed to deliver the next phase of this exciting project.

“The new Golborne station will make a real difference to people’s lives and our wider region and this announcement is another step forward in making it a reality.”

Murphy will now take forward the proposals to deliver detailed designs, which will support the station’s final business case.

Chris Cayton, Transportation Managing Director at Murphy, said: “With offices in Stonecross and Golborne, we were particularly delighted to be appointed the first phase of this project alongside our valued supply chain including design partner WSP, to greatly improve transport links in the local area for the benefit of the surrounding communities. As a company, Murphy is focused on improving life by delivering world-class infrastructure and this project will do just that.”

As well as the station, partners are looking at ways to improve the town and areas around the station through the Golborne town centre Masterplan. This would make them even better places to live and visit with improved cycling and walking links and opportunities for further investment in Golborne.

The station would be delivered though locally devolved government funding.

Jo Platt, MP for Leigh and Atherton, said: “The community in Golborne have been waiting a long time for this. After years of campaigning and planning, it’s fantastic to see Golborne station reach this next milestone.

“This important transport infrastructure will bring better connectivity, help to reduce congestion and support local economic growth. Connectivity and growth across all of Leigh and Atherton is extremely important to me and I am excited to see the benefits this will bring to the town.”

Find out more information about the station proposals at: A new rail station for Golborne | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Wigan Council has approved the planning application for a new £32m railway station in Golborne, paving the way for TfGM to work up detailed designs
  • Another milestone reached in plans to connect the Greater Manchester community to the rail network for the first time in more than 60 years
  • Murphy appointed to develop the design for the station, with first trains hoped to stop there in 2027