Lessons Learned from Managing a Complex Infrastructure Crossing
Every project teaches you something, but some truly shape the way you manage forever.
I recently delivered a complex infrastructure project involving a critical HDD crossing. It brought together multiple asset owners, strict technical compliance, overlapping legal processes, and a schedule where even one delay could ripple through the entire programme.
Here are the lessons I took away, which I believe are just as valuable for large-scale solar:
1. Stakeholders first
Defining responsibilities, escalation paths, and dependencies upfront avoids firefighting later.
2. Legal and technical go hand in hand
Approvals are never just paperwork. They depend on compliance deliverables such as earthing studies and BS EN 50122-1 standards.
3. Define compliance early
Agreeing on criteria early prevents rework and keeps expectations aligned.
4. Contract as a playbook
Clear clauses resolve disputes quickly and maintain accountability.
5. Critical path visibility
Ensuring everyone focuses on the true bottlenecks keeps delivery on track.
6. Transparent change control.
An open and well-documented process protects both time and cost.
7. Communication as risk control
Regular calls, trackers, and proactive updates build trust and alignment.
Final Reflection
This project was delivered in harsh conditions far from ideal, but it reinforced that success is not only about engineering. It is about managing interfaces: legal, technical, commercial, and stakeholder. Those same principles apply in any extreme environment, from snow-covered rural sites to remote desert locations.
