Bolton Interchange and S278 Works
Overview
EWCE completed Section 278 works for Bolton Council as part of the £48m project to build a new bus and rail interchange including a cycle hub. The project was delivered by TfGM in partnership with the Council and formed part of the regeneration of Newport Street. The purpose of the project was to improve public transport links by bringing bus, cycle and rail services closer together and boosting access to the town centre.
The new interchange was built on land bounded by Newport Street and Great Moor Street and replaced the existing Moor Lane bus station. It provided improved links between the town’s bus services and railway station, and created a far more attractive ‘gateway’ to and from the town Centre. EWCE works were located at the Great Moor Street (A6172) entrance to the Interchange connecting it with Bolton Town Centre main shopping area.
The Works
The works delivered by EWCE were under a S278 agreement and included
- Highway construction works
- Temporary traffic management
- Footpath works constructed in high specification sandstone and granite paving and granite kerbing
- Earthworks
- Drainage works,
- Carriageway resurfacing
- Installation of ducting
- New traffic signals and road markings.
Key Challenges
Key Topics included:
- Progress of the various stakeholders.
- Look ahead programmes
- Required interfaces
- Upcoming events in the town centre.
- Access arrangements / deliveries for the week.
- TM requirements.
- Resource allocation
From the outset, it was agreed that minuted coordination meetings should be held on site at our site offices. Representatives from each of the key stakeholders (EWCE, Bolton MBC, TfGM and Kier) met each week to report on the key topics identified.
The meetings became essential in pre-empting and solving problems. The actions from the meetings were disseminated through each of the key stakeholders. This provided a positive working relationship between the different construction projects in the busy town centre environment and allowed all parties to coordinate works and progress in a safe and productive manner.
EWCE provided Bolton MBC with a Clause 31 Contract Programme at the start of the scheme which sequenced the various construction activities across the town centre site, based on the information provided at tender stage.
Once the construction phase had started on site, we were advised that access to certain areas would be delayed due to other stakeholder activities. In order for the construction phase to continue until these work areas became available, we looked at the activity sequencing on the programme to see if any changes could be made which would mitigate the potential cost, time and quality issues that the lack of access delay would cause.
Following urgent discussions internally and with our supply chain, we were able to re-sequence the programme. The result was that the critical path was changed and other works were able to be progressed until the other work areas became available. This ensured that associated costs were minimised and EWCE had pro-actively and transparently minimised the effects of the change.
With so many different parties being involved and affected by the works, it was essential to identify and engage all the key stakeholders to ensure a positive, coordinated construction phase.
