Residential properties, a live carriageway, public footpaths, and sports pitches in regular use were the main constraints within this project. To ensure safety to the public, our workforce and on-site subcontractors, we deployed a traffic management plan to minimise disruption to the footpaths and carriageway and ensure shared access to the residential areas and sports pitches.
Communication with the council, client and residents was key to our successful completion of the work. We worked closely with Henry Boot and Southend Council to implement an active public relations plan with on-site meetings and letter drops informing the residents of the phasing of works and out of hours working contact details in the event of any problems.
The on-site road works included stripping the existing rugby pitches and top-soiling and seeding the new pitches. They then involved reduced dig, large-diameter drainage, swales and balancing ponds, pump station and pump mains work, kerbing, path edgings, tarmac and street lighting and hard and soft landscaping.
We were responsible for constructing the off-site roundabout with associated traffic islands and resurfacing a section of the carriageway, including kerbing, street lighting traffic signs and hard and soft landscaping.
Extended hours and overnight works were necessary to minimise disruption and to comply with Essex County Council requirements.
Two, three and four-phase traffic light systems had to be introduced to execute the works successfully. Specialist subcontractors carried out the street lighting signage and soft landscaping, with around 500 shrubs being planted in the roundabout and along the verges.
