Caption: A map of the diversion route.

 

 

Overnight and weekend Closure - Air Balloon roundabout to Burford Road A429  

 

Last month we shared the good news that the adders that were translocated as part of the Missing Links scheme are doing well. In total, we have moved over 2,000 reptiles, including adders, viviparous lizards, slow worms and grass snakes. 

  

Since then, we've been collecting data on 10 adders, making note on their sex, scale patterns, weight, and breeding condition. Each snake was fitted with a radio tag post-hibernation to enable the monitoring of their movements at receptor sites. 

  

The adders were tracked over a period of approximately 65 days, until the tags were naturally shed. This tracking effort not only provided valuable insight into individual movement patterns during the breeding season but also led to the discovery of previously unrecorded reptiles.  

  

Initially, adult adders remained close to the release site, but post-breeding, many dispersed between 100 and 300 meters. Some females, however, continued to stay near the release area. Monitoring data indicated no evidence of a resident adder population at this site prior to translocation, suggesting that adders were either absent or present in very low numbers. Newborn adders have been found at all sites later in 2023 and into 2024.   

Some adders have dispersed beyond the initial release areas, suggesting the need for broader landscape-scale surveys to identify newly occupied habitats. Over the next five to 10 years, a clearer and more accurate picture of population survivorship and site expansion is expected to emerge. The goal is to establish robust, well-distributed populations with a varied age structure across all species. 

This work highlights the importance of ensuring that any future reptile translocations are supported by well-managed, connected landscapes and strong, collaborative relationships with landowners. 

Caption: Members of the Kier team at the Careers Day.

The Customer Hub

Our Customer Hub, located at the crusher compound at Shab Hill, continues to open every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am until 2pm. You can visit us any time during these hours, without pre-booking an appointment. Members of our team will be on hand to tell you more about the scheme and answer any questions that you may have.  

This month we caught up with Paul the project’s photographer and videographer.

What is your role on the A417?    Photographer /videographer.  

What is the best thing about what you do?  I’m grateful for the trust that Kier and National Highways have placed in me to capture images that truly reflect the scale and ambition of this incredible project. Their support and the creative freedom to experiment with equipment and ideas have been key in showcasing the A417 as a landscape-led scheme. 

What equipment do you use? I’ve been using a range of equipment to tell the story of the A417, including mirrorless cameras and wide-aperture lenses for shallow depth of field, drones, video cameras, time-lapse setups, and tilt-shift lenses that offer a unique forced-perspective aesthetic. I’m also about to trial an infrared camera and invest in cine lenses to achieve that beautiful, cinematic look when shooting video. 

Is the A417 a good project to photograph? It’s an incredible project to be part of, with a fantastic team who are always supportive and make my role so much easier. There’s a huge variety of work to capture on this scheme. From the broad, landscape-led design featuring seven major structures, to the smaller sub-stories that bring the project to life, such as dry-stone walling and solar-powered site offices. My job is to document it all, from the big picture to the finer details, and it’s a privilege to help showcase the scale and ambition of the A417. 

What are the biggest challenges?  This is a vast construction site—spanning over 5km—with constantly changing and dynamic elements. I rely heavily on the communications team, black hats, and the structures team to keep me informed about shifting deadlines and ongoing developments across the site. 

Do you also do video editing?  I produce video content, which makes up around 50% of my work on the A417 project. Naturally, this means I’m also responsible for editing the footage to ensure the final product communicates key messages clearly and consistently. Each video must consider the diverse backgrounds and interests of its potential viewers. Given the scale of the A417 project, the scope of my work is incredibly varied. One week I might be filming a progress update, and the next I could be creating an informational piece focusing on a key subcontractor in the supply chain. 

 

 

• Top-up: Fuel, oil, and screen wash 

• Rest: Plan regular stops every two hours to avoid driver fatigue 

• Inspect: Check tyre pressure and tread 

• Prepare: Have a plan for severe weather conditions