Oxford Science Park — Magdalen Project

The brief

The Magdalen extension at Oxford Science Park meant diverting four separate water assets around the new build: twin 800mm rising mains, a 180mm rising main, a 450mm trunk main, and a 250mm distribution main. The route crossed live roads and ran past deep excavations and retaining embankments — all inside MACE's live programme, with no room to let the works slow the wider site down.

Why keep the mains live

Taking twin 800mm rising mains out of service isn't a small decision — at that size, a shutdown ripples outward. Rather than isolate them, the team used line stops and riders to control flow while the diversion work went on, keeping both mains live throughout.

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The method

All four assets were diverted using butt fusion. On the twin 800mm rising mains specifically, line stops and riders controlled the flow, meaning the mains stayed in service for the duration rather than being shut down for the works.

Where it stands

Completed in January 2024 — four assets diverted, two rising mains kept live throughout, delivered inside MACE's live programme around the Magdalen extension.