Construction work

Tender description

Location: A379 Bridge Road, Exeter, Devon, UK. The scheme extends between Countess Wear Roundabout and Matford Roundabout, on the A379 Bridge Road in Exeter (UK Ordnance Survey grid ref 294122,89512). The road currently carries 3 lanes of traffic (2 north-bound, 1 south-bound) and has a pedestrian/cycle route on its western side. The scheme includes widening to accommodate a 4th traffic lane plus improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Bridge Road crosses the valley of the River Exe, and therefore has the following structures within the proposed site: — Countess Wear Bridge — this is an 18th century listed structure, of masonry arch construction crossing the River Exe. — Countess Wear Flood Relief Structure — a 38 m, 5-span reinforced concrete structure, constructed in the mid-1900's. — Swing Bridge/Bascule Bridge — 2 separate moving bridges that span the Exeter Canal. — Alphin Brook Culvert — A reinforced concrete arch structure, spanning 4.5 m over the Alphin Brook. — River Exe Flood Relief Structure — A 25 m 3 span reinforced concrete structure. — Railway Overbridge — The existing bridge is a simply supported 9 m single span, constructed in 1935/36 comprising ten riveted steel plate girders with concrete jack arches and stiffened plate parapets. Bridge Road forms the boundary to ecological sites of European importance, these are the Exe Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Exe Estuary RAMSAR site. The scheme includes: — New 9 span, 170 m total length, 3 m wide steel pedestrian/cycle structure located outside the western elevation of the existing Countess Wear Bridge. Piles required through the piers of the existing bridge already installed in 2014. — A 4.8 m extension to the reinforced concrete Countess Wear Flood Relief structure, including strengthening and refurbishment works to the remaining structure. — Re-positioning of the Swing Bridge to adjust the closed position. This will include civils works to accommodate the new bearing positions and re-programming of the electrical/computerised control systems of the Swing Bridge to suit the re-positioning; — Traffic signals for toucan crossings and wig-wag signals for the Swing Bridge; — A new 26 m steel foot/cycle bridge to cross the railway (Superstructure is Contractor-design); — Reinforced concrete retaining walls to support the widened highway to both approaches of the proposed railway footbridge; — Modifications to the headwalls of the River Exe Flood Relief,and Alphin Brook structures; — Soil nailing; — Widening of the highway earthworks; — Widening of carriageway; — Foot-way/cycleway enhancements; — New carriageway drainage including detention basins; — Existing services diversions; — Fencing; — Street lighting; — Road restraint systems and parapets; — Standard traffic signs; — Highway landscaping. Bridge Road carries approximately 30 000 vehicles during the daytime (12-hour 2-way flow) and the contract will require 1 traffic lane in each direction to remain available for traffic, plus facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Traffic management and programming will be an essential element to manage. It is intended to let the contract as an NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract, using Option B, Priced Contract with Bill of Quantities.