Standing up to 12 metres below the original ground level, the scale of the excavation is striking. 

Sir Robert McAlpine Section Manager Nathan Jones said: “We’ve taken out more than 360,000 tonnes of material since we started work. We’ve also had demolition teams clearing redundant site buildings including the old substation, compressor house and mechanical workshop. 

“A lot of that excavated material has been processed on site and recycled into aggregate, which we’ll use for the piling mats that will support the next phase of construction.

“It has been quite a long process, but I’m very proud of the teams that have worked extremely hard to get us to this place.”

Three stepped plateaus now shape the landscape, each designed to support key components of the future steelmaking facility, from the Consteel conveyor system, to the upper levels carrying pipework, to the fume-extraction plant.

Nathan continued: “The next major milestone is the start of piling, scheduled for starting in the New Year.

Over 1000 piles, some up to 28 metres deep, will be both driven & cast in place forming the deep foundations needed for both the Fume Extract Plant & Consteel (Conveyor) Structure.

Over the coming weeks, teams will complete drainage installations and extend piling platforms up to and inside the BOS plant where the main furnace will be going.

WATCH HERE: Tim Rutter speaks to Nathan Jones from Sir Robert McAlpine