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South Wales Argus
25-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Expert in civil engineering's solution to M4 relief road
Bristol, not south Wales, will benefit from investment and Wales will suffer if the M4 corridor problems are not addressed. The warning came from Keith Jones, an employee and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), who has an impressive CV and has advised on infrastructure policy and guided projects for decades. Talking to the Argus, Keith explained people need to understand what civil engineering is: 'People think of medicine and hospitals as the most important aspect of health. That's completely wrong! Infrastructure and delivering basic services come before medicine. 'Medicine doesn't work without access to clean running water and other basics. The same goes for other things we take for granted. You can't have anything delivered without civil engineering laying foundations. Clean water is more important than medicine – or anything else,' he explained. Keith, ICE Regional Director for Wales, laid out dilemmas facing Wales: 'The M4 is an old road and cannot now cope. We have outdated infrastructure, people wanting to drive cars because cars get you from where you are to where you want to go. Public transport can't do that and we all know it. 'We also have demands on reducing carbon and we need to balance growth, environmental concern and mobility without any silver bullet solution.' Keith stated ICE fully supports Welsh Government policy on carbon reduction and environmental management. He points out that by about 2030, Wales would have spent about £3bn on alternatives to the M4 and all that investment may be ineffective. Furthermore, the investment is aimed at alleviating problems in an era which has seen sluggish economic growth over nearly 20 years. How would we cope with normal growth? Recently, Welsh and UK governments combined to produce a near £1bn infrastructure boost. This will be spent on expanding rail services, bus lanes, cycling and walking routes. Keith responds: 'Five new stations? I haven't seen the detailed programme, but such things are notoriously hard to deliver on budget and on time. ICE is in full support of new stations and environmental concerns and will be calling for further measures in future.' He added a note of caution: 'The new train infrastructure could lead to delays elsewhere in the network. Don't be surprised if new rail services cause delays on mainlines.' Heavy goods vehicles caught flouting ban on Severn Bridge Calls to privatise Cardiff Airport as scrutiny over £400m funding continues Keith explained we are used to politicians asking for things and engineers building those things. Today, carbon reduction will measure the immense carbon footprint of large projects, with things like carbon hungry products, like concrete, being rationed. For Keith, delivering squared circles will be exciting for the future of civil engineering and its engagement with public policy. He starkly laid out problems: 'How is Wales is going to cope? If you're an investor, would you invest east or west of the Prince of Wales Bridge? I doubt big projects will come west of the bridge because there's major unresolved problems.' Asked about alternatives to a relief road, Keith was gloomy: 'We advise ministers and ministers decide. That is the way it should be. I would not advise a new tunnel or open cutting Brynglas Hill, to drive open lanes through the site. That is not an option because of environmental, topographical and policy constraints. These are major difficulties. A new road, of some sort, is the only real option.' Asked about sensitivity of the Gwent Levels and an alternative route, Keith said: 'That's a matter for ministers. All policies have consequences because all people have consequences on the world. Policy to manage it is down to ministers who must come up with imaginative solutions, based on technical advances and people accepting that all policies have both winners and losers and we can't have magic solutions – just trade-offs.' Nevertheless, Keith can sound optimistic on the matter. He says the completion of the Heads of the Valleys route offers new options, as does the proposed new rail stations. However, the challenge evolves, just as possible technical solutions evolve: 'Recent commitments are part of the solution and we welcome them, but ICE will be keeping a watching brief on the options open to ministers and also their decisions.'
South Wales Argus
20-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Newport engineer wins STEM Ambassador of the Year award
Stephanie Lewis has been named ICE Wales Cymru STEM ambassador of the year in recognition of her dedication to promoting careers in civil engineering. Ms Lewis, a senior engineer and STEM lead at WSP in Cardiff, was praised by the Institution of Civil Engineers for her commitment to outreach and innovation in engaging young people. She said: "Fifteen years ago, passionate STEM ambassadors sparked my civil engineering journey. "Now, as the ICE Wales Cymru STEM ambassador of the year, I truly appreciate the impact of this role; inspiring future generations, fostering innovation, promoting education, and championing inclusivity, all while sharing our industry's passion and shaping its future." Ms Lewis first became interested in civil engineering after being inspired by a STEM ambassador during her own education. Judges commended her for developing a cohort of STEM ambassadors within WSP and for creating a new workshop to support the programme. The judging panel said: 'Stephanie Lewis provided an exemplary submission where she detailed all the work she has put into STEM outreach as a STEM ambassador plus how she's promoted the programme within WSP. "She has maintained meetings with the STEM ambassador delivery partner, and it has been an absolute pleasure to provide guidance where needed. 'Stephanie demonstrated innovative methods to provide high quality engagement, and by creating a STEM ambassador cohort within WSP alongside developing a workshop is why Stephanie's submission stood out. "It showcased how she had not only considered her impact on current engagement but how she has left a legacy. "There were some incredible nominations however we feel that Stephanie is a very worthy winner of this award.' ICE Wales Cymru regional director Keith Jones said: 'It is great to see Stephanie's success in attracting potential future civil engineers in Wales to have a rewarding career within an industry that plays in a crucial role within society creating a resilient infrastructure that keeps our communities running and contribute to a more sustainable world.'
India Today
25-04-2025
- Business
- India Today
Indus Waters Treaty paused. Is Mangla Dam first casualty of diplomatic war with Pak?
In a massive diplomatic move against Pakistan, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 — a step taken in retaliation for the Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 22. One of the first casualties of the diplomatic war may be Pakistan's grand Mangla Dam, located on the Jhelum river in the Mirpur district of Pakistan-occupied Mangla project began in 1961 after Pakistan and India signed the treaty. That gave Pakistan rights to three rivers in India: the Jhelum, the Chenab and the Indus, according to the Institution of Civil Engineers. Mangla was the first of two dams built to strengthen Pakistan's ability to irrigate its crops. The other was the Tarbela dam on the Indus. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Mangla is the world's 11th-largest dam based on Pakistan began renovating this dam in August 2013, and the work was completed in September 2024, according to the US State Department's Office of Foreign Assistance. The US assisted Pakistan with the Mangla Dam Rehabilitation Project. The project focused on modernising and increasing the power generation capacity of the Mangla Hydropower Plant. Of the overall foreign assistance of $232 million that Pakistan received from the US in 2024, nearly $50 million was for completing this project. US Funds to Pakistan have been the lowest in 22 years. Fall in US assistance for PakistanWhile the US has been a strong source of financial support for Pakistan, both in terms of military and economic assistance, the trend has significantly changed in recent years. Financial support for peace and security has especially taken a funds for the peace and security category are aimed towards six areas: weapons of mass destruction; conflict mitigation and reconciliation; counterterrorism; stabilisation operations and security sector reform; counternarcotics; general security; and transnational crime. The assistance in all these areas has decreased in recent years. US funding to Pakistan's military is in a downward spiral. With a severe hit on new and expensive hydropower projects, at a time when foreign assistance to Pakistan is seeing a declining trend, the diplomatic offensive has hit the country where it would hurt the InTrending Reel
