Edburton Civil Engineers is certified to carry out works which adhere to Section 278, a legally binding document between the Local Highway Authority and the developer to ensure that the work to be carried out on a highway is completed to the standards and satisfaction of the Local Highway Authority.
CASE STUDIES
DUKES MOUND S278, BRIGHTON
Client: BHCC
Contract value: £751K
Edburton was employed to develop the former MOD barracks site into student accommodation.
- Remove vegetation
- Remove signs and redundant street lighting
- Construct 2 new signal-controlled junctions including duct networks
- Construct new block paved footpaths including tactile crossing points
- Resurfacing of over 1000m2 of tarmac footpath
- Installation of new signage
- 4600m2 of carriageway resurfacing to Marine Drive and Madeira Terrace
- Application of new road markings and coloured surface finishes
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Dukes Mound S278, Brighton
Client: BHCC
Client Contact: Katharine Pearce, Programme Manager
Contract Start: Mar 2021
Contract Completion: Feb 2022
Value: £751K
Description of Contract & Scope
Edburton Contractors Ltd (ECL) as Principal Contractor under the CDM Regulations 2007 constructed highway improvements, road markings, coloured surfacing, hard & soft landscaping works to improve the Dukes Mound area of Brighton as part of the Black Rock redevelopment scheme. The contract was undertaken on a NEC3 Term Contract. ECL worked collaboratively with BHCC’s signal installation contractor to carry out the project. These works included:
- Remove vegetation
- Remove signs and redundant street lighting
- Construct 2 new signal-controlled junctions including duct networks
- Construct new block paved footpaths including tactile crossing points
- Resurfacing of over 1000m2 of tarmac footpath
- Installation of new signage
- 4600m2 of carriageway resurfacing to Marine Drive and Madeira Terrace
- Application of new road markings and coloured surface finishes
- Installation of fencing
- Installation of street furniture
- Street lighting ducting
- Soft landscaping works including tree planting
Risk Management and Scheme Challenges
Road Markings and Coloured Surfaces – The project required a significant amount of road marking work to be undertaken on both the upper and lower junctions to delineate filter lanes, parking bays, cycle lanes, pedestrian walkways and crossing points. Parking enforcement markings were also applied. The Hydro-Blasting technique was used where required to allow the fast and clean removal of existing road markings. The scheme also required nearly 1000m2 of green coloured surface, 450m2 of grey coloured surface and smaller areas of red surfacing. The application of these surfaces and markings was carefully co-ordinated to ensure they were set out correctly and checks were put in place to ensure that the surface had sufficient curing time before being trafficked over.
Traffic Management – Brighton Seafront is a very popular tourist attraction, and this meant that there is a high volume of pedestrian, cycle and vehicle traffic through the project area. Careful consideration was given to provide a safe means of segregating the public from the construction areas and the works were sequenced to ensure that there was always access along the promenade.
Due to access constraints much of the surfacing and lining works were undertaken at night under a series of road closures. ECL produced multiple traffic management plans demonstrate how the diversion routes would function and used these to apply for Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTRO) from BHCC to allow the closures to take place
Planted Areas – A section of the project involved the creation of a new public realm area constructed on an area of wasteland. This area consisted of a paved section with street furniture and a planted area with shrubs and five new mature trees. Each tree weighed several tonnes and as such a number of logistical challenges needed to be overcome to install them. An area of the seafront parking was set aside so that the lorry trailers that the trees were delivered on could be stored in a safe location until each was required. Traffic marshals and banksmen-controlled pedestrians, cyclists and road users so that a telehandler operator could unload each tree, transport it along Madeira Terrace and then deposit it into a pre-excavated tree pit in the landscaped area. The trees were planted near the Volk’s Railway line so careful consideration was made to ensure that the works did not disrupt its operation.
Innovation
Duct Trench – The project included the requirement to lay over 200m of ducting along the seafront to facilitate future street lighting requirements. Using traditional excavation techniques this would have taken approximately three weeks to install. However, by using a top cutter and then backfilling the trench with foam concrete rather than the traditional granular backfill the works were completed in one week greatly reducing the disruption to the public.
Speed Trials – Madeira Terrace is used for the annual Brighton Speed Trials. This introduced the challenge that any traffic islands or bollards situated in the highway must be removable to facilitate the event and any residual chambers or mountings must be flush with the surrounding tarmac surface. ECL sourced and installed bolt down traffic islands which can be quickly removed and re-installed following completion of the trials. Bespoke retention sockets were constructed for the traffic bollards which leave a smooth flush finish once the bollards are removed.
Outcome – Budget, Schedule and Quality
The project successfully delivered two new signal-controlled crossing points improving safety at two junctions as well as rejuvenating a historically run-down area of the seafront with a new landscaped area.
The Project was valued on the BHCC Term Contract Rates and was re-measured over several significant scope changes and variations. Our commercial team worked closely with the Project Manager and provided a high level of commercial detail to ensure budget integrity.
By re-phasing elements of the project and ensuring that all carriageway surfacing works were complete the 2021 Brighton Marathon and Speed Trials were held even though construction activities were still ongoing in the area.
All works were undertaken using the ISO 9001 accredited Quality Assurance scheme. This controlled how works were undertaken and introduced checks to ensure compliance and quality.
The scheme has been very well received by the public receiving many complimentary remarks particularly regarding the new public realm landscaped area.
The project demonstrated ECL’s ability to achieve BHCC’s key outcomes for this Highways Services Contract as follows:
- BHCC Key Outcomes: Project Achievements
- Carbon neutrality: Use of recycled aggregates. Large area of new planting
- Cost management: Project delivered to budget expectations
- Customer satisfaction: Notable appreciation of the new public realm landscaped area
- Quality assurance: Hydro-blasting and careful co-ordination of coloured surface application ensured quality finish
- Safety: Traffic marshals and banksmen ensured pedestrian safety
- Social value: Brighton Speed Trials enabled through innovative traffic bollard solution
- Schedule management: Sequencing of works ensured continuous pedestrian access along promenade
- Well planned Permits: Permits and TTRO’s etc all arranged by good and timely liaison
PRESTON BARRACKS S278, BRIGHTON
Client: U+I Plc
Contract value: £945K (S278 Highway Works)
Edburton was employed to develop the former MOD barracks site into student accommodation.
- Removal of vegetation, trees, signs and CCTV
- Install highway drainage network
- Install signage and CCTV
- Construct signal junctions, footpaths, crossings
- Resurfacing, road markings, soft landscaping
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Preston Barracks S278, Brighton
Client: U+I Plc
Client Contact: Kenny Mbeyela, Project Director
Contract Start: 2019
Contract Completion: 2022
Value: £945K (S278 Highway works)
Description of Contract & Scope
Edburton Contractors Ltd (ECL), as Principal Contractor, carried out enabling, S278, hard and soft landscaping works to develop the former MOD barracks site on Lewes Road, Brighton into a mixed development of student accommodation, study space and housing. The contract was undertaken on a JCT form of contract.
A significant highway improvement contract was delivered on Lewes Road including:
Removal of:
- trees and vegetation
- signs and redundant street lighting
- CCTV masts
- Installation of:
highway drainage network - signage
- street lighting and CCTV masts
- Construction of:
2 signal-controlled junctions including duct networks, traffic signals and signal commissioning - new tarmac footpaths including tactile crossing points
- three new roads into new development
Resurfacing of Lewes Rd outside developments
Application of new road markings
Soft landscaping works to verge areas
Risk Management and Scheme Challenges
Traffic Management –ECL worked with BHCC to develop a traffic management (TM) system for this busy Brighton thoroughfare to mitigate the use of temporary traffic signals and maintain constant traffic flows. ECL produced multiple TM plans to allow the implementation of the different phases of the works and used these to apply for Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTRO) from BHCC to alter the traffic flows and close adjoining side streets where required.
A contraflow system allowed the usually segregated bus, cycle and traffic lanes to pass through the works whilst maintaining pedestrian segregation in both directions. Temporary signalled pedestrian crossing points at strategic points throughout the works allowed pedestrians to safely navigate traffic- controlled areas.
Interface with Adjacent Sites – The works required co-ordination with three other main contractors on adjacent sites who were constructing nine different buildings in order to maintain access for constructions activities. As buildings were handed over in a staged process during the project, measures were required to allow residents and office users access through our works. ECL constructed extensive temporary access routes to enable vehicle and pedestrian access while keeping fire routes clear.
Utility Diversions and Installations – ECL co-ordinated utility works within its TM in order to:
- Divert utilities in order to realign existing kerbs and footpaths to minimise TM required and maintain traffic flows along Lewes Rd.
- Install utility supplies to the new developments including high & low voltage cables, Openreach & Virgin ducts, Southern Water mains and SGN gas installations.
Night Working – As each phase of work was completed large sections of the project required carriageway tarmac resurfacing. ECL undertook the resurfacing and road marking works at night in order to maintain the quality of the surface finish by occupying a greater road width than was possible under the daytime TM system without temporary traffic signals which would cause severe traffic delays during the day. The works were undertaken during mild dry weather to ensure a high quality of road surface and markings were achieved.
ECL worked with BHCC and in particular the Environmental Health department to determine the noise levels of the construction plant and ensure the works would not cause undue disturbance to local residents who were informed via letter drops of the upcoming works.
Innovation
Several large trees lined the eastern edge of Lewes Road where ECL were required to install a duct run to connect the northern and southern signal-
controlled junctions. ECL undertook trial holes and in conjunction with the BHCC tree officer it was determined that these new ducts could not be laid in the footpath without causing damage to the tree roots. It was therefore decided that the ducts should be laid in the carriageway. This meant excavating near a number of water mains and electricity cables. To mitigate the risk of damage to these utilities ECL used a vacuum excavator to excavate the trench safely.
ECL have now adopted this innovative excavation
technique on other schemes for BHCC including traffic signals projects and a SuDS scheme at Carden Avenue where it was used to safely excavate around tree roots and a medium pressure gas main.
Outcome – Budget, Schedule and Quality
The project successfully delivered new access roads into the high-profile Preston Barracks redevelopment project and provided safer means for pedestrians to cross Lewes Road.
The project was delivered to budget with tight cost-control governing all works and variations.
Whilst the Covid pandemic, high volume of additional utility works and developer-imposed constraints caused some extension to the overall project, the S278 works themselves did not interrupt site handovers. The works were sequenced to ensure a managed completion and there was no impact on the opening of the new student accommodation and commercial spaces.
Works were monitored using the ISO9001 Quality Assurance scheme. This details how works are undertaken and checked to ensure compliance. We worked in close liaison with the Clerk of Works. Snagging was undertaken as the works progressed.
Despite the high volume of both pedestrian and road users that passed through the works during the programme there were no reported accidents and complaints were minimal. Brighton events such as the Marathon, Pride and London to Brighton cycle race all took place and were unaffected by the works which is testament to the delivery teams co-ordination and planning of the project.
The project demonstrated ECL’s ability to achieve BHCC’s key outcomes for this Highways Services Contract as follows:
- BHCC Key Outcomes: Project Achievements
- Carbon neutrality: Re-routing ducts to prevent damage to trees and utilise vac-ex
- Cost management: Project delivered to budget
- Customer satisfaction: Traffic flows maintained and adjacent sites serviced
- Quality assurance: On going QA monitoring ensured snag free handover
- Safety: TM segregation of pedestrians through works
- Social value: High profile local events unaffected by the project
- Schedule management: Interfaces with other main contractors maintained access and handover
dates - Well planned Permits: Multi-disciplinary working within Permitted TM minimised disruption,
saved TM costs and demonstrated collaboration
OLD SHOREHAM ROAD, BRIGHTON
Client: Brighton and Hove City Council
Contract value: £630k
Edburton was employed as the main contractor to construct a new segregated cycle route:
- Efficient, safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists
- Upgrade & improve traffic signal junctions
- Safer crossing routes
- Upgrade street furniture
THE SEVEN DIALS, BRIGHTON
Client: Brighton and Hove City Council
Contract value: £765k
Edburton was employed as the Principal contractor to construct environmental improvement scheme:
- New street furniture and tree pits
- Construct central island with over-run area
- Resurface approach roads
- Kept traffic and businesses going
CLIENTS
CAPABILITY
Edburton is certified to carry out works which adhere to Section 278, a legally binding document between the Local Highway Authority and the developer to ensure that the work to be carried out on a highway is completed to the standards and satisfaction of the Local Highway Authority.
OUR SERVICES
LOCAL AUTHORITY
Edburton has over fifty years’ experience on Local Authority work. These have ranged from small scale maintenance contracts to large multi-million pound and framework civil engineering projects, these include:
COMMERCIAL DRAINAGE & UTILITIES
Edburton has worked extensively for private clients and local districts and authorities on numerous drainage projects for over 50 years.
We range from 24 hour round the clock emergency relief, to the construction of complete new systems. These services include any of all of the following:
COMMERCIAL DRAINAGE & UTILITIES
Edburton has worked extensively for private clients and local districts and authorities on numerous drainage projects for over 50 years.
We range from 24 hour round the clock emergency relief, to the construction of complete new systems. These services include any of all of the following:
HARD & SOFT LANDSCAPING
Edburton carries out both hard and soft landscaping for local authority and private clients, ranging from a few thousand pounds to multi million pound developments.
RECYCLED AGGREGRATE
Edburton’s recycled aggregates can be used for the construction of paths, roads and car parks either as a base or as a finished surface.
MOT Type 1 / 6F5 (as above) / 40-75mm Crushed Concrete
RECYCLED AGGREGRATE
Edburton’s recycled aggregates can be used for the construction of paths, roads and car parks either as a base or as a finished surface.
MOT Type 1 / 6F5 (as above) / 40-75mm Crushed Concrete
