Agenda item

(A report by Lee Rowley, Senior Project Leader - Major Schemes, in connection with the award of contract for the Lincoln Eastern Bypass)

The Committee received a report in connection with pre-decision scrutiny of the contract for the construction of the A15 Lincoln Eastern Bypass before it was considered by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT on 1 November 2016. The Bypass would provide a new 7.5km single carriageway relief road that would link the A158 Wragby Road in the north to the A15 Sleaford Road in the south. The new route would be classified as a A15 on opening and would be subject to a 60mph speed limit.

A discussion between the Committee and officers included the following topics:-

1. What lessons had been learnt from the delay caused by the disruptive possession of the track? Officers stated that Network Rail was required to go through a complex process before possession took place and discussions regarding possessions could not take place until a contract with the Council was in place.

2. The costs estimate had increased but the possibility of a reduction in costs was welcomed.

3. While accepting that the project was complex it was important that Members were kept informed as soon as possible of any potential issues that might be a cause of concern.

4. Who determined the amount of compensation paid to the train operators due to track possession? Officers stated that Network Rail was responsible for setting the compensation payments and because the level of disruption was unknown at this stage this information was unavailable.

5. The problems caused by track possessions were due to the fact that the rail operators were private commercial operators. If there was a derailment Network Rail would act a lot quicker to find diversionary routes. Officers reiterated that Network Rail was required to follow a detailed process in possession cases but officers agreed that there should be a quicker way of doing this., or that they should start discussions earlier.

6. What arrangements were in place to manage costs? Officers stated that it was proposed to set up a team on site to manage costs. Information supplied by Carillion, the proposed contractor, gave confidence that measures were in place to ensure that the project was delivered on time and on budget. The Committee would be kept informed of the progress in the Major Schemes report.

7. Officers stated that they would examine arrangements for the Committee to visit the project during construction.

8. Had the Council accounted for any additional work in case the By-pass was expanded to a dual carriageway? Officers stated that the Council had taken into consideration any future expansion of the By-pass to a dual carriageway. For example all of the new roundabouts were designed to accommodate a dual carriageway, drainage ponds, etc, were able to deal with dual carriageway runoff and where possible structures were designed to incorporate the additional span for the carriageway. The only parts of the project which were not future proofed in this respect were the crossings of the River Witham and the Lincoln to Market Rasen railway line.

9. Who was responsible for inflation costs? Officers stated the inflation costs were a small part of the project and had been accounted for by the Council.

10. When the By-pass was completed new signage would be required to re-route vehicles, particularly HGVs, away from the Cathedral area of Lincoln. Officers stated that the By-pass would form part of the new A15 which had been agreed with the Department for Transport and new signage would be installed to advise all traffic of the new strategic route.

11. Officers confirmed that disruption during construction would be minimised where possible.  The majority of the scheme would be in fields with potential disruption occurring during construction of the roundabouts.

RESOLVED

(a) That the recommendations to the Executive detailed in the report be supported.

(b) That the comments made by the Committee, responses given by officers, be noted and passed to the Executive Councillor.