Highways Agency

• Issue 1 - july 2003

Issue 1 - july 2003

Issue 1 - July 2003

Introduction

Welcome to the first edition of A1 Upgrade News - the newsletter which will keep you informed about community issues and provide progress updates on the A1 upgrade.

A1 Upgrade News is available from local shops, post offices, libraries and Parish Councillors as well as on the this website.

Who to contact

Carley Scott, Community Relations Manager

Carley has previous experience in Community Relations, and was the Community Relations Manager for the A650 Bingley Relief Road for two years before moving to the A1 Upgrade project. She is the single point of contact for issues you may have relating to the scheme. Carley can be contacted on 01977 688000.

Project Manager

Alistair Snart, RMS Agent

Alistair has over 20 years experience dealing with major projects including operation and maintenance. He has been involved throughout the design and contract award period of the A1M and has extensive local knowledge and experience of the road and its problems.

What is the background to the scheme?

In 1998, the Government set the Highways Agency the objective of delivering a carefully targeted programme of large-scale improvements to the motorway and trunk road network. The A1 upgrade is one of these schemes.

Who is doing the work?

Road Management Services (RMS) was awarded a 33 year Design, Build Finance and Operate contract in February 2003. RMS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Road Management Group comprising Amec, Alfred McAlpine, Dragados, and Kellogg, Brown and Root. The consortium has been awarded three other DBFO contracts in the UK.

Where are RMS based?

Our main site office is near the A1/A63 Selby Fork junction.

When will the road be finished?

Work on the project started in May 2003 and will take about three years to complete.

What benefits will it bring? How much will it cost?

The £245 million A1 Darrington to Dishforth Project will provide two stretches of new motorway: between Ferrybridge and Hook Moor, and between Wetherby and Walshford
See map.

Safety improvements including updating the motorway communications system (electronic signs, signals and emergency telephones) also form part of the project.

Ferrybridge to Hook Moor

Benefits

• Bypass the existing A1 and the communities of Ferrybridge, Brotherton and Fairburn, all currently divided by the present A1.
• Remove large volumes of traffic, including HGVs, from communities on the A1, improving living conditions.
• Provide a safer, more efficient road than the existing A1.
• Provide a new interchange that will move traffic away from the present congested junction of the A1 and M62.

Wetherby to Walshford

Benefits

• Improve environmental conditions for those who live and work north of Wetherby.
• Provide a much safer road, eliminating bends to the north of Wetherby.
• Provide a more efficient route, allowing the separation of long distance traffic from slow moving agricultural traffic.

What about dirt and noise from the construction works?

Nuisances, such as noise, dust and mud, created by construction work are restricted by law and will be kept to an absolute minimum.

We have agreed working times with local authorities. Noise monitoring will be undertaken regularly at a number of locations along the route.

We will use water bowsers and sprays to keep dust down in dry weather. And road brushes, tractor brushes and wheel washes will be used to minimise the transfer of mud from the site to local roads.

What about environmental issues?

Care of the local environment is one of our main priorities. Archaeologists and ecologists are currently undertaking research and monitoring work on the project.

Ecologists are working to ensure that animal and bird life is not disturbed by our construction work, and a team of archaeologists are busy at a number of key sites along the route of the project road. We will bring you further information on these interesting projects in future issues of the newsletter.

What are you doing to ensure safety?

We are, of course, bound by strict laws about the safety of the site. We have a full time safety Manager on site who deals with all aspects of safety for the duration of the scheme.

We have also made contact with local schools, offering site safety presentations. The first of these, at Darrington Junior and Infant school, took place on 17 June. Fifty children were shown a video highlighting the dangers of playing near construction sites, and were given the chance to ask questions and try on site safety clothing. Further presentations have been arranged for schools in Fairburn, Brotherton, Ferrybridge and Wetherby.

Where can I find out more?

Contact Carley Scott on 01977 688000

Or go to the DBFO section on this Highways Agency website

Charities

RMS supports local charities including Martin House Childrens Hospice in Boston Spa near Wetherby, and the Peter Pan Nursery in Sherburn in Elmet which helps children with special needs.

Map of Darrington to Dishforth DBFO Project Scheme

View larger image