Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects has been appointed by Highways England (HE) to undertake widening and roundabout construction works on the A5 highway, as part of a S278 agreement. The £3.4 million scheme that
Contractor, GRAHAM, is targeting late January 2021 for the completion of the Congleton Link Road A536 scheme. Described as a “crucial piece of infrastructure”, the 5.7km bypass will join the A534 Sandbach Road (to the west of Congleton) with the A536 Macclesfield Road (to the north of the town). In
A major project described as Stockport’s single most important strategic highway connection has been completed by GRAHAM. The £8m Travis Brow Link Road creates a vital link between the A6 and M60 in Stockport town centre. It’s part of Stockport Council’s £73m Town Centre Access Plan, which will improve access
Highways England has awarded contractor GRAHAM a major new package of works covering maintenance and improvements in the East of England as part of its Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF). The Highways England OD East Packages P&Q, valued at almost £25 million, comprise 84 maintenance and improvement work programmes including multiple
The construction of Congleton Link Road started today at an event attended by Cheshire East Council’s leader councillor Rachel Bailey, transport minister Jesse Norman MP, and Congleton MP Fiona Bruce. The £90m project is seen as a major economic driver for the town, with the potential to create 3,000 jobs,
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects has been appointed by Highways England (HE) to undertake widening and roundabout construction works on the A5 highway, as part of a S278 agreement. The £3.4 million scheme that will facilitate access to the new 18-acre industrial and manufacturing site, Hinckley Park, is located circa 1km east of Junction 1 of the M69. The Winvic team started on-site in July and the scheme will be completed and open for use in January 2021. The programme of works not only includes the construction of a new 50m diameter* roundabout, but also comprises resurfacing works where the trunk road will be widened on the south side. The broadening of the A5 will generate space for the creation a new pedestrian footway on the north side of the road. Additionally, an access off the A5 – 650m east of M69 J1 – will be constructed, which will be for the sole use of a new sub-station. Winvic is currently undertaking initial earthworks – engineering existing ground levels to correlate with the new works – has begun the drainage programme and is due to start the lane kerb works. The majority of the existing highway drainage will be amended to suit the new road configuration while up-to-date signage and white lining will be realised prior to the scheme’s handover to HE. The majority of the work to construct the roundabout will take place offline to reduce the impact on the road network, with short periods of overnight traffic signals and closures being effected to deliver the carriageway widening and final surfacing works. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Director of Civils and Infrastructure, commented: “Winvic has worked extremely effectively with Highways England on numerous complex schemes, so liaison with the authority throughout the design process and construction works to date has been straightforward and efficient. Ensuring A5 road users are not inconvenienced whilst keeping our workforce safe on a live highway has naturally been one of our top priorities, and I’m delighted to say the scheme is progressing at pace, and on track for completion in January 2021. This project is a great step forward for Winvic to demonstrate that we can work with Highways England on its national frameworks by delivering schemes like this across the highways sector, now and in the future.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.
Contractor, GRAHAM, is targeting late January 2021 for the completion of the Congleton Link Road A536 scheme. Described as a “crucial piece of infrastructure”, the 5.7km bypass will join the A534 Sandbach Road (to the west of Congleton) with the A536 Macclesfield Road (to the north of the town). In the opening year, during rush hour, traffic journeys across Congleton are expected to take circa six minutes less than the current rate. Air quality assessments also indicate that there will be substantial improvements throughout the town centre. GRAHAM has implemented a five-phase, sequenced programme of works, split into five mainline zones in order to meet the agreed sectional completion dates. Despite recent challenges associated with COVID-19, and inclement weather conditions, “great progress” has been made in recent months as GRAHAM Contracts Manager, Alastair Lewis, explains. “We are delighted with the great progress of the Congleton Link Road A536 project so far despite a number of challenges, in particular those presented by COVID-19,” “I hope the aerial photographs give the local community a real sense of the scale and complexity of the project. Once complete, it will help deliver economic and social regeneration to the town. At this stage, I would like to thank the people of Congleton for their time and patience throughout the scheme.” Key milestones Among the recent milestones is the completion of the waterproofing works to the river Dane structure, which is the final phase of works before surfacing the bridge deck. When the surfacing has been completed, material earmarked for other areas of the scheme will be transported over the bridge, rather than vehicles travelling through the town. The riverbank erosion protection works are now complete Significantly, the Giantswood Lane Bridge is complete following the completion in August of the bridge joints, final surfacing and white lining of the realigned carriageway. The Giantswood Lane structure offers a great viewing point of the new mainline currently under construction. The Chelford road overbridge has been opened to traffic and the realignment of the Chelford Road carriageway will be undertaken before the final surfacing works are carried out. Permanent sheet piles are currently being installed as part of the works to construct the underground attenuation tank, which will collect excess surface water before been pumped away. Progress continues on the Loach Brook Bridge with the bridge deck recently been finished. The final concrete pours to the south side of the structure will be carried out during September. Further key achievements and updates include: The final surfacing and white lining to the new roundabout junction on Sandbach Road have been completed and the temporary traffic lights have been removed. The largest section of mainline has had subbase laid with further road foundation works to be undertaken ahead of the surfacing works in October. Road foundation and kerb installation works continue across the entire scheme. The planting of vegetation including trees, shrubs and seeding of grass has commenced across the scheme. Two new underpasses have successfully been installed on Manchester Road and works to back fill material over the structures are to take place during September. For more information on the Congleton Link Road project, or GRAHAM please visit: www.graham.co.uk/congleton-link-road If you would like to receive project updates, please register via: https://group.graham.co.uk/l/1F8/CongletonLinkRoad Alternatively, you can email the GRAHAM Project Team directly at congletonlink@graham.co.uk
A major project described as Stockport’s single most important strategic highway connection has been completed by GRAHAM. The £8m Travis Brow Link Road creates a vital link between the A6 and M60 in Stockport town centre. It’s part of Stockport Council’s £73m Town Centre Access Plan, which will improve access into and around the centre, by easing congestion and improving transport links. GRAHAM’S work has been recognised, with the scheme named ‘Project of the Year’ at the 2019 Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) North West Awards. Leo Martin, Executive Director at GRAHAM, said: “This has been a really successful project and our teams have worked incredibly hard on a scheme which benefits millions of people who will use this link road. “It forms a key part of an extensive access plan for Stockport town centre. High-levels of expertise were required in order to complete the work – especially when you take into consideration the Grade II listed viaduct and tunnel. “Our work has been praised for meeting the key objectives of achieving best value, minimising disruption and efficient delivery.” GRAHAM was appointed through the Highways England CDF Lot 2 Framework. The project didn’t come without its challenges, with innovation required to support the exposed rock face beneath the Viaduct foundations, whilst also restricting movements to negligible level during the construction phase. Pre-stressed rock anchors were utilised with a near vertical hard shotcrete facing. The retaining structure was then covered in mass concrete, to protect against vehicle impact and corrosion. Output and benefits Impact: Our collaborative design and construction effort reduced the overall project costs for SMBC, while providing a visually improved overall landscaped scheme. Bridge strikes: Our work has helped to reduce bridge strikes on George’s Road where regular strikes had previously caused significant disruption to the road and rail networks. Segregated pedestrian and cycle lanes: These have created an important east-west local sustainable transport link north of the town centre. Engineering fill: 10,000 tonnes of excavated brickwork were recycled by crushing and turned into engineered fill for the construction of the embankments and temporary works piling. Collaboration: Our construction methodology was designed to enable a key road (providing access to B&Q and Decathlon) to be opened at weekends in recognition of busy retail trading.
Highways England has awarded contractor GRAHAM a major new package of works covering maintenance and improvements in the East of England as part of its Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF). The Highways England OD East Packages P&Q, valued at almost £25 million, comprise 84 maintenance and improvement work programmes including multiple surfacing, drainage, signage, bridge projects and concrete road repairs across the Eastern region, including A1, A11, A14, M11, M1, A5, A12, A120 and A47 roads. The packages will be delivered collaboratively with design teams from AECOM and Mott MacDonald/Sweco supporting the works. Throughout the packages, GRAHAM will engage with local stakeholder groups and communities to establish strong and effective relationships and maintain clear lines of communication with road users during works. Rob Cook, Regional Director for GRAHAM, said: “We have worked with Highways England on its Collaborative Delivery Framework since 2017, and have delivered many successful improvements to Britain’s roads during this period. We’re delighted to have been awarded this latest package, which we will continue to deliver with the open and honest values that make GRAHAM such a respected partner in the highways industry. “The mobilisation of the P&Q packages represents the next steps in our ongoing relationship with Highways England and as part of their customer focus strategy we will be supporting and engaging with the local community throughout the programme of works, with several initiatives currently planned for rollout.” As an integral part of Highways England’s supply chain, one of GRAHAM’s strategic priorities, which is already bearing fruit and delivering lasting impact, is to continue developing this strong collaborative relationship. In 2017 GRAHAM delivered two major work packages on the CDF covering the A47, A11, A1 and A12 roads. The £19m contract consisted of multiple key safety improvements, surfacing, structures and technology schemes extending from Peterborough to Norwich, through to Lowestoft via Great Yarmouth.
The construction of Congleton Link Road started today at an event attended by Cheshire East Council’s leader councillor Rachel Bailey, transport minister Jesse Norman MP, and Congleton MP Fiona Bruce. The £90m project is seen as a major economic driver for the town, with the potential to create 3,000 jobs, 2,400 new homes and 20 hectares of new employment land to attract new businesses, all of which could deliver £13m into the local economy. It’s a big change to the landscape and to mitigate the impact, the council are planting over 10 hectares of woodland and shrubs including 381 new trees, 16km of hedgerows, 33 hectares of new grassland and creating six new ecological ponds. In the opening year, in the rush hour, journeys across Congleton are expected to take about six minutes less than currently and air quality assessments show there will be some significant improvements throughout the town centre including Rood Hill and West Road. The route for the link road will run to the north of the town, south of Eaton. It will link the A534 Sandbach Road, near its junction with Sandy Lane, to the A536 Macclesfield Road, near its junction with Moss Lane and provide a new crossing at the river Dane. It will also create improved road connections to both Congleton Business Park and Radnor Park Trading Estate. The scheme attracts strong local support – with calls for a bypass around the town going back 30 or 40 years. Cheshire East Council is contributing £24m towards the construction project, with the balance coming from central government and developer contributions. Councillor Bailey said: “I am delighted that we are beginning this very important road scheme for our borough today. I’m also thrilled that we were successful with our business case, which has resulted in £45m of the project funding coming from government funds. “This council started developing a proposal for a new road around Congleton to match our growth plans back in 2012 and what we have achieved here is a scheme that doesn’t just enable our development plans; it complements, shapes them and levers in over £20m of private sector transport investment into Cheshire East.” “This is the biggest capital project the council has ever done; and it is a credit to the strategic infrastructure team and all those involved that we have managed to deliver this scheme from just a concept in 2012 to where we are today, about to start work, just a few years later, I know it has been challenging at times. This must be some sort of a record for a highway scheme, some of which can take 20 years to deliver.” Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton said: “This new link road will not only lead to fewer accidents and cut congestion in Congleton; it will take lorries out of the town centre and improve air quality for residents. “The road will improve connectivity right across east Cheshire by improving links to Manchester airport, the M60 and the M6. It would also improve connectivity to the rail network, particularly the inter-city connection at Crewe. This road is much wanted, much needed and will future proof the development of Congleton for generations to come.” Transport minister Jesse Norman MP said: “Cheshire and Warrington have among the best performing economies in England and this scheme will help maintain that dynamism. The Link Road will not just cut journey times; it will improve air quality for residents. “Our focus on investment in the North isn’t just about our great Northern cities; it’s also about connecting the towns and communities. The new housing and job opportunities will also boost the area’s economy and support our broader commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.” Leo Martin, managing director of civil engineering at GRAHAM said; “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Cheshire East Council to construct this important project that will bring economic and social regeneration to Congleton. Our experience completing complex highways projects throughout the UK will be instrumental in ensuring completion of the link road is to the very highest standards.” Councillor Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for highways said: This is yet another important step in improving the connectivity of our road network in the borough. We will work with residents to address any worries during this build process but safety has to be paramount and, whilst short-term disruption in the local area is inevitable, the road will benefit Congleton for years to come.” The road is due to open to traffic in late 2020. Latest news from the site can be seen on the council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/congletonlinkroad
