Cycle Route Construction
SCHEME
Phase 1 of the Cycle Route 16 on Western Esplanade; Southend on Sea
CLIENT
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
LOCATION
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
VALUE
-
DURATION
Six weeks, February 2010-March 2010
Southend-on-Sea wanted to create a new cycle lane to run along the seafront in the town centre. Giving the cyclists of Southend a safe area to use along the sea front. The works needed to be completed before the Summer Season began, as to avoid disruption to Essex’s main tourist attraction.
Project description:
Henderson & Taylor, were requested to work in partnership with the Design Engineers of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in the construction of the new cycle lane. Works began in Feburary 2010, when the South East of England was plagued with freezing tempretures and heavy snow falls, despite this the management team led by Marcus Clough and Roland Gibbins kept the project running in budget and ahead of schedule. Work was undertaken on both day and night shifts to provide the minimum length of disruption to the local business and public.
Services Provided
- Design and implement the Traffic Management along the busy Western Esplanade, to minimise disruption to the public and maximise access and efficiency to keep the project safe and efficient.
- We brought in a specialist piece of cutting equipment (Rockwheel) to dig out a curb line in the road, to create the cycle lane area with a entrenched bed for the Bull/nosed 6×5 kerbs. The Rockwheel was only used during night shifts, to minimise its disruption to local businesses and the public.
- 1.5km of kerbs were laid into the trench created by the Rockwheel.
- The existing granite kerb road line was excavated and re-laid to bring it back into line with the road with a 50mm kerb face to clearly mark out the cycle lane from the pedestrian walkway. All the existing granite kerb was reused and re-set to provide cost saving to Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
- Much of the existing drainage which had suffered decades of heavy use on the seafront needed to be replaced or renewed to extend it to accommodate the new cycle lane. New drainage systems were installed where necessary with as much of the existing drainage installations being modified to accommodate the project and offer best value for money to Southend.
- Along the Esplanade tree pits were excavated, for the later supply and installation of Palm Trees. This was undertakend by Henderson and Taylor as an additional job, in some clever thinking by Southend-on-Sea Enginners, as having Henderson and Taylor complete the work whilst we were already set up with traffic management and machinery allowed us to provide Southend-on-Sea Borough Council this work at best value for money.
- Machine surfacing was used to provide a wearing course for the cycle lane.
Benefits to Customer
- Multi skilled workforce capable of carrying out every aspect of Cycle Way Construction
- Reliable and dedicated workforce
- In house traffic management, allowing the scheme to be taken from conception to completion, minimising project complications
- A system of maximised communication between all parties
- As a SME the project was given the attention it needed by senior management to ensure a steady delivery of materials, plant, equipment and skilled workmen to site.
- A completed project finished in budget and ahead of schedule.
- A safe cycle area for Southend’s cyclists, roller bladders and skaters along the Western Esplanade.
