Client: Middlesbrough Council
Site Address: The Avenue, Middlesbrough
Contract Value: £0.46 million
Contract Period: July 2009 until November 2009
The existing highway structure along the length of The Avenue had suffered significant failures resulting in settlement and cracking. The new works entailed the reconstruction of the existing carriageway and footways together with new lining and signing, pedestrian guard rail, bollards and associated drainage works. No service diversions were planned and the works brief involved working around the live services.
Works were required to be completed in five phases with a minimum period of five weeks per phase.
The works proved to be complicated by unchartered services and service positions which differed from the utility records. Close liaison with the relevant service protection teams were quickly developed to carry out trial digs and investigation works as the works progressed. Some of the mains were in poor condition and were prone to leakage after the weight of the existing construction was removed. These areas were carried out in small sections to prevent large sections from being unrestrained.
The roads were closed in discreet sections with diversions managed as the works progressed. Special measures for the local population included:
- Temporary car park for residents with manned security
- L&C moved dust bins to collection points outside of the works area
- Door knocks to residents to ascertain any specific access needs
- Liaison with local school to keep them informed of construction works
- Programmed works around local church services
The road material for the binder course (FoamMaster) was promoted by our subcontractor Tarmac and provided a sustainable alternative to the use of primary aggregates. The formation layer to the underside of the FoamMaster was provided by the use of Teesside slag replacing the need for first generation quarried material. The use of ‘Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggregate’ (IBAA) had been investigated but was unsuitable under these specific conditions.
During the works all excavated hard materials were recycled to our recycling centre at Hartlepool run by one of our in house companies Tonks Waste, who provided advice on the latest recycling methods and opportunities.
The works were completed one week ahead of schedule despite the problems with the services.
