issue two: may 2009 - Halcrow

Project profilesCelebrating excellenceTaking its tollTraffic streaks along the newly constructedthird lane of the M42 motorway east ofBirmingham, UK, a testament to thescheme’s success.Halcrow took on design duties for contractorCostain during the tender and detaileddesign phases. Commissioned by MidlandExpressway in October 2007, the design andbuild scheme opened to motorists – on timeand to budget – in July 2008. Linking the M42to the M6 toll road, the extended southboundsection reduces snags on one of the UK’sbusiest stretches of motorway.Halcrow’s tender designs sought to reducework areas on the 2km scheme, cuttingmaterial costs and the need for laneclosures. Given the heavy traffic flows on thisarterial route, slashing traffic managementcosts was identified at the outset as adeciding factor in securing the contract.Detailed drainage analysis made the casefor downsizing drainage works. Revisingthe road alignment shaved sizeable chunksfrom the verge width – trimming down theearthworks andreducing theneed for off-sitedisposal. Thesereviews enabledCostain to scale back theconstruction programme,cutting costs and improving the project’ssustainability credentials.Sharp contract negotiations and valueengineering will also bring savings forHalcrow. Any differences between projectexpenditure and tender predictions were split50:50 between the two parties, providing anextra incentive to review every section of thescheme and find areas for potential savings.Managed from Halcrow’s Cardiff base withspecialist support from Swindon, Chichesterand Derby, the contract is the first designand build scheme delivered out of the Welshcapital since regional empowerment.Project manager Paul Sandford reflected:“This has been a real team effort and acredit to those involved, characterised byGlowing reviews from Costain ina recent client survey culminatedin an overall score of nine outof a ten, with the contractorenthusing that it would ‘definitelyrecommend’ Halcrow to others.The companies are teaming up onanother design and build schemein South Wales.a commitment to deliver a qualityservice. Thanks in particular toSimon Rimell, Lesley Campton andDavid Smith.”BeforeAfterM6 Birmingham Road overbridgealong the M42 southbound vergeShine a lightHalcrow’s switched-on street lighting team has dazzledChichester residents, lighting up four iconic landmarks in thehistoric West Sussex town.An architectural lighting trial made 21 October a night tosavour, with illuminating results for The Market Cross, TheButter Market, The Council House and the cathedral.Halcrow’s David Hollingsworth, Rob Jones, Cedric Whitingand Kam Mak – seeking to push the boundaries of theirInstitution of Lighting Engineers (ILE) exterior lighting diploma– demonstrated bags of initiative. Not only did they liaise withlocal authorities to plan the display, but they got local firm PhilipsLighting on board.The Market CrossThe Council HouseDonated floodlighting equipment and the latest LED technology inhand, the bright sparks set about flicking the switch on their centralobjective – creating a lighting scheme that enhances both theilluminated structure and the surrounding scene.Local residents and councillors swarmed around the lit-upmonuments, ablaze in the night sky. City council property manager,Guy Clifford, applauded the team’s efforts:“This innovative demonstration gives the city council a valuableinsight as to how these prominent buildings could be enhanced. Thepossibilities are endless, and I am certain that this project will helpdetermine future plans for the lighting of these buildings.”(L to r) Kam Mak, Cedric Whiting, PaulRansley, Sarah Nichols, Richard Bennett,Rob Jones and David Hollingsworth20Vox | issue two