Brief Description

This scheme involves widening 17km of the M1 to dual four lane standard. The scope includes parallel distributor roads for the M10 intersection, remodelling of four junctions, demolition and replacement of overbridges, provision of sign and signal gantries, new lighting and communications plus extensive landscaping and environmental mitigation.

FTG is working in alliance with Atkins as designers for the Balfour Beatty/Skanska JV. The Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract has been let on the basis of a 100% quality tender and performance is being measured using KPIs against commitments made in the Quality Submission.

The project comprises two phases with Phase 2 consisting of detailed design, construction and maintenance of the widened motorway. Design has been undertaken both in our offices and by a site-based team located in the contractor’s offices.

Notable Features

For this project we are using an Earned Value Analysis (EVA) process to monitor and report on a weekly basis on design cost against planned and actual programme achievement.

FTG has identified and developed a number of innovations and Value Engineering (VE) options which have had positive impacts. Mainly centred on J10 these include:

• lowering the vertical alignment of J10 and the motorway spur road. This VE option has reduced earthworks and programme duration with a consequent reduction in cost
• proposing changes to Illustrative Designs in order to achieve reductions in various elements including required traffic management and costs
• identifying that optimisation of tie-in points will have significant beneficial effects in reducing impacts on existing structures
• advising that at Church Road underbridge the highway and footways should be constructed at different levels, thus avoiding costly diversion of BT and other telecommunications services
• ensuring the design of the widened Nikki Lane underbridge incorporates measures which help guide bats along familiar foraging routes

Fehily Timoney Gifford Responsibilities

In addition to significant input into the Quality Submission, our responsibilities include:

• detailed design of all elements of the northern 5km of widened motorway
• design of all widened underbridges and gantries on the scheme
• existing pavement and drainage assessments
• inspection and assessment of existing structures
• Category II Checking of new and existing structures designed or assessed by Atkins
• structural advice on bridge demolition