A41 - WESTCOTT ROUNDABOUT CONSTRUCTION
Scheme: A41 / Westcott Roundabout (including Link Road) Construction
Client: Buckinghamshire Council / Westcott Venture Park
Dates: January 2020 – November 2020
Scope of Works:
C.Dowdy were appointed by RingwayJacobs / Buckinghamshire Council as the main Sub-Contractor to upgrade the existing A41/Westcott High Street T-junction with a four-arm roundabout, including a dedicated access road to Westcott Venture Park from the A41. C.Dowdy undertook all works for the construction including; Site Compound Construction & Demobilisation, Site Clearance, Fencing, Drainage & Service Ducts, Earthworks, Pavements, Kerbs Footways and Paved Areas,
Traffic Signs & Road Markings and Landscaping & Ecology.
Through delivery of Westcott, phasing the works was key to ensure traffic flows were maintained on the A41 and also entering / exiting Westcott Venture Park. C.Dowdy produced (in conjunction with our Clients and Major Stakeholders) a detailed phasing plan for the delivery of the new roundabout to ensure all parties were aware of the phasing but also understood the reasoning behind the phasing – which the general public may have questioned. This exercise not only helped provide all parties with a clear understanding of the scheme but also knowledge to answer questions / queries should they be asked.
Due to the location of the works and key Stakeholders, the scheme was highly political and as such required thorough, detailed and realistic communication of the works being undertaken and also programme delivery dates. C.Dowdy prepared and submitted fortnightly site updates for all parties which formed the basis of the scheme’s monthly bulletins (both website updates and printed updates for local meetings / forums). In addition, due to the high profile and number of businesses within Westcott Venture Park (70no.), daily communication was critical to ensure impact to businesses was kept to an absolute minimum and working arrangements could be adjusted to suit both business needs and delivery on the ground.
Through ECI, C.Dowdy raised a number of value engineering items including utilising our own mobile impact crusher to break up and crush the WW2 concrete runway surface (WVP was “RAF Westcott” during WW2) to be used as subbase within the new Link Road (following testing / certification). This provided cost savings to the project and increased sustainability within the design.
During the early stages of the construction programme COVID-19 struck and as a company we reacted swiftly, implementing measures to keep our staff and colleagues safe, ensuring works could continue on site. Even during lockdowns, we managed our workforce safely and efficiently to ensure works continued on site. Undertaking the works directly with our own plant and workforce and with reduced traffic volumes on the roads, we were able to update our phasing / programme to undertake the most disruptive work during this window, including 24hour Road Closures. This resulted in positive feedback from both key stakeholders and the general public for delivering during such uncertain times and reducing disruption once lockdowns were lifted.
