Highways Agency

A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass

Newsletter No.1 - October 2002

Work on the new £9 million Rushden-Higham Ferrers bypass is well underway again after problems caused by the original contractor, Stenoak Associated Services, going into receivership brought things on site to a standstill.

However, Aggregate Industries UK Ltd acquired the part of the Stenoak group principally involved in the bypass project and the construction contract has been officially transferred to them. Shortly after that the various teams returned to site to resume the project.

Highways Agency Project Manager Mike Hall said:

"I am really pleased that works are underway again. This has been a difficult time for all concerned, but we can now look forward to a successful end to the contract.

"I'm delighted to have the new team onboard from Aggregate Industries UK Limited. I am sure local residents will be pleased by the activity they can see on site.

"Everyone here is working hard on getting the bypass completed by August 2003, if not before."

Why build the bypass?

The bypass will stretch for 5.5km and is part dual carriageway and part single carriageway. When completed it will reduce accidents and congestion in both towns and facilitate development of land for housing and employmentallocated in the Local Planprepared by the local authority.

Behind the scenes

During July, the project team began working hard to remobilise the various suppliers, sub-contractors and resources necessary to successfully deliver this scheme. Physical works recommenced during mid-August with the team getting up to full speed again by the end of the month.

A contractor installing some of the drainage system for the new road.

Now the hard work really starts

With the bulk of the earthmoving already completed, the remainder of this year will see the focus change to drainage works, road construction and the building of the four new roundabouts along the length of the job.

There are still 30,000 cubic metres of earth to move; 80,000 square metres of cement/lime to stabilise on the road foundations; 6,000m of drainage pipes to lay; 1,800m of fencing to put up; 600m of environmental barriers to put into place and 49,000 tonnes of carriageway surfacing to lay. And not forgetting the two footbridges that will be built at Stanwick Road and Hayden Road.

We have currently completed around 20% of the scheme but as you can see there is a huge amount still to do. The remainder of this year will certainly be a busy period with our main target to complete as much surfacing as possible before Christmas, leaving the roundabout, finishing works and bridges for early next year.

Community Liaison

In spite of the upheaval in recent weeks, the staff team and contact details remain largely unchanged.

Our Community Liaison Officer, Melanie Stead, has left the project for personal reasons and has been replaced by Philip Hobson, who can be contacted on: 01933 353045.

Philip is committed to working in harmony with the local community and well qualified to deal proactively with any issues which may arise.