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A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass
Recent Activities
The Newcastle Link road, which ties into the existing A500, is now complete and open to traffic. However, landscaping and other minor works to allow access into adjacent farmland require completion. A Thirty Three Thousand volt cable passing underneath the line of the new main carriageway will be lowered this week. Similarly, BT will make connections to their new cables in Wybunbury Road. The old sections of the A500 and Wybunbury Road will then be removed allowing construction to continue with a clear run through to Rope Lane.
Crewe Road, Main Road and Rope Lane overbridges have all been constructed and soon will be carrying traffic over them, allowing new carriageway construction to continue underneath. Carters Green Farm and Mill Lane are also complete with Rope Farm Bridge scheduled for completion on 10th July, leaving Wybunbury Road cycle/footbridge the only structure to be completed. The majority of culverts and wildlife passes are also nearing completion.
The Western approach embankment to the Rail Bridge is under construction and this involves a fleet of articulated dump trucks moving earth from near Meremoor Moss, over the bridge.
Forthcoming Activities
There will be a series of overnight road closures of the A5020 commencing on Monday night 8th July 2002, to facilitate construction of the Meremoor Moss roundabout. Whilst this may cause some of the travelling public to use slightly longer diversioning routes, it should prevent the normal peak hour chaos from getting any worse. We trust you will all bear with us whilst we undertake this important section which ties the new road into the existing.
Environmental Matters
The translocation of protected species from the working areas of the project has been virtually completed. A running total of about 150 Great Crested Newts have been trapped and moved. The replacement habitats areas, including ponds that have been created, are flourishing now that the growing season is well under way and they are starting to look as though they have always been there. As progress with the actual surfacing of the road continues, wildlife passes or tunnels are being installed at appropriate locations to allow safe passage across the road for badgers etc. An unexpected visitor to the project has been the sand martin that has been looking to colonise the exposed faces of the sandy sub-soil uncovered temporarily by the earthworks. Bird scarers have been deployed, as well as sheeting, over areas at risk before works have been completed.
Customer Care
Whilst every care is taken to ensure that local residents from the Villages effected by the ongoing work are not unduly disturbed, there are inevitably times when sadly this cannot be achieved. Should anyone have any concerns, please feel free to call our site office and talk to a member of staff, who will endeavour to find an amicable solution to your problem. The address and phone number can be found on the back page of this Newsletter.
Organisations Involved in A500 Project
Last Issue: The Babtie Group (Design Consultant)
This Issue: Veryards (The Employers Agent)
VERYARDS Ltd was founded in 1959 as an independent professional partnership of civil and structural engineers. The firm quickly established a reputation for innovative and cost effective designs associated with commissions for national and local government departments, health authorities and private sector clients. In more recent times Veryards has been involved in design and build projects acting either as Employer's Agent or Contractor's Designer.
In 1988 the predecessor to the Highways Agency appointed the company to investigate alternative routes for a bypass of Basford, Hough and Shavington which forms part of a more general upgrading of the A51(T) strategic route between North Wales and Chester to the Midlands and beyond. Veryards, under the direction of the Highways Agency, has been responsible for dealing with all the normal statutory procedures including public consultation, preparation of the mainline and side roads Orders, public inquiry andcompulsory land purchase issues. Tender documents were prepared in accordance with the Department of Transport's Design and Construct form of procurement. Specialist sub-consultants have been employed to deal with environmental, ecological and street lighting matters.
During the construction phase of the project Veryards has responsibility for ensuring the requirements of the Highways Agency are fully met. They monitor the activities of the contractor and their designers and participate in meetings with interested parties. Communications with the local community affected by the scheme also plays an important part of their work.
Safety
The Considerate Constructors Scheme is a voluntary Code of Practice, driven by the Industry, which seeks to:
- Minimise any disturbance or negative impact (in terms of noise, dirt and inconvenience) sometimes caused by construction sites to the immediate neighbourhood.
- Eradicate offensive behaviour and language from sites.
- Recognise and reward the contractors commitment to raise standards of site management, safety and environmental awareness beyond statutory duties.
John Mowlem & Company PLC are registered with the Considerate Constructor Scheme and upon a recent site inspection at the A500 Basford Hough Shavington Bypass project, we are proud to have scored a total 39½ out of 40. We feel that participating in the scheme demonstrates that we put environmental sensitivity and public health and safety at the top of our agenda.
Considerate Construction provides high standards of site cleanliness and tidiness, better site housekeeping and traffic management, less dust and noise, environmental friendliness and greater community involvement, which results in improved understanding and respect from residents and others in the community, and fewer complaints. A clean tidy, organised and well managed construction project is also safer for both those operating around it and those working on site who enjoy better working conditions and are as a result a more productive workforce. Being a Considerate Constructor is consequently a 'win win' situation for all those involved.
Considerate Constructors Code of Practice
Considerate - Environment - Cleanliness - Good Neighbours - Respectful - Safe - Responsible - Accountable
Should you have any queries or concerns please contact:
Gaynor Mellor, A500 Project Office, Crewe Road, Shavington, Crewe, Cheshire CW2 5AH Tel: 01270 666195
Sports News
Mowlem have agreed to sponsor a youth league from the Crewe Alex Soccer Academy for the forthcoming season.
Currently the Mowlem 5 a side team remain unbeaten and would welcome challenges from local business's/teams.
If anyone would like to challenge Mowlem to a game of 5 a side please contact Kevin Lucas, Project Manager on the number overleaf.
