South East frameworks for highways and structures

South East frameworks for highways and structures

Facts and figures

  • Total contract value to date is £83m with an average value of £2.3m per task order
  • Duration: 4 years 5 months
  • Extensive on-line carriageway reconstruction involved planing-out 160,000 tonnes of existing surfacing and replacing 275,000 tonnes of flexible surfacing, 120,000 sq m of crack and seat, 8km slip-formed concrete step barrier (CSB), earthworks and drainage
  • Structures pier and bridge beam hydro-demolition and replacement. Cofferdams for new foundations, working in confined spaces adjacent to live traffic flows and main line railways. Piling – tripod and CFA methods. Major motorway bridge deck jacking (M4), installing / replacing bearings, cathodic protection, carbon-fibre-reinforced plate bridge soffit strengthening, parapet replacements and bridge deck repairs
  • Motorway lighting; cabling for lighting, traffic loop installation and communications; new sign gantries and CCTV

Interserve was awarded under the HA option Beta (EEC option C form) two contracts for Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and construction works following a quality/price competition.

The combined frameworks cover carriageway and structures works on Highways Agency motorways and major arterial roads in the South East and East Anglia (HA MAC Areas 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8) for the period 2003–2008, extended to 2009. The contracts include:

  • Highway engineering work, including surfacing, strengthening and improvement schemes
  • Structures schemes for strengthening, replacement and new bridges

Works comprise 37 task orders covering; major refurbishment and renewal; new construction; and an element of design and maintenance. Of these, 11 were structures schemes and 26 were highways schemes. 26 of the 37 involved ECI with a total professional services value of £220k.

Our works programmes were geared to preventing traffic delays, noise, dust and disruption to the public and environment. We have addressed; increasing capacity; safety improvements; enabling civil engineering for technology schemes; journey time reliability; and trials to prove innovative fixing methods for street lighting.

Achievements

  • Awards: Each site has been registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme. We have been recognised with three Silver awards and one Bronze, top score achieving 38.5 out of 40.
  • Cost savings: Through ECI we gave predictability of cost and delivered the project below budget. On the M1 J4–5 contract alone, we saved the client £500,000 by challenging and changing the design specification, while on the M11 J9–8 resurfacing, we realised savings of over £500,000.
  • Traffic management: Employed temporary traffic measures to ensure safety of the workforce and travelling public without affecting traffic flows. Most works were undertaken at night and arrangements used include; contraflows; lane / hard shoulder closures; diversions; priority signs, traffic signals; narrow lanes; and Convoy working.
  • Stakeholder engagement: Organised displays, events, letter drops for local residents and businesses, local authorities, the police and statutory bodies to allay any concerns. We were also involved in the MA/MAC advertisements before major activities, such as bridge lifts and local road diversions.
  • Zero environmental incidents: We were proactive in seeking advice from Environment Agency
  • Risk management: Our risk management processes aid proactive management of health, safety, environmental, quality and financial risks.
  • Delivery to project brief: High satisfaction was expressed for meeting key objectives on design and construction, environment and risk.
  • Creativity and innovation: Our KPI assessments scored 10 out of 10 for M11 parapets, A34 Peartree to Weston and M1 Junctions 4–5.

The Highways Agency commented on the success of the M1 J4–5: “Interserve completed on time despite numerous changes.”