Progress Updates 2009 - Part 2 |
18 December 2009
On 18 December the operations on the Western Relief Road started a two week Christmas shutdown. It seemed appropriate that on this day, work finished early owing to a prolonged snowfall, leaving much of the site under a thin blanket of snow and looking very seasonal (see photos).
All the temporary traffic signals which have caused inconvenience to road users over last few months have now been removed for at least the duration of the Christmas break. It is expected that the worst of the traffic management is now over, and that the use of temporary traffic lights from now on will be mainly restricted to off-peak hours.
Potfords Dam Roundabout on the A4071 Coventry has now had the final surfacing course of tarmac laid and the white lining carried out. This surfacing course has been extended a good length up the main carriageway towards Bilton lane. Other finishing works to the verges and cycleway have also progressed well.
Sow Brook Bridge, and the nearby long length of retaining wall behind Paynes Lane is now substantially complete.
The tying in work at Lawford Road Junction, which required 3-way temporary traffic lights causing considerable disruption to the traffic, has now been completed. It is expected that by the end of January traffic will be transferred from the length of temporary road on to the new permanent road.
The tunnel under the old Parkfield Road which connects the two Cemex quarries on either side of the road, and adjacent retaining walls are about on programme, though some time has recently been lost because the inclement weather
Parkfield Road Railway Bridge, Avon River Bridge, and the length of carriageway up to Newbold Road Roundabout are all now substantially complete.
Most of the length of Newbold Road between the roundabout near Avon Valley School and Avon Mill Roundabout is now substantially complete. However there is a short length of carriageway to be reconstructed near Avon Mill Roundabout and this will be done in late January. This will require the use of 3-way temporary traffic signals and is likely to cause considerable disruption for a short period.
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Potfords Dam Roundabout under snow
Road towards Cawston Bridleway Bridge under snow
Cemex Tunnel and Retaining Walls under snow
Avon River Bridge in Snow
Road Near Avon Valley School under snow
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23 October 2009
Between Potfords Dam and Bilton Lane, finishing works are currently being carried out. This includes final shaping and topsoiling of the verges and embankment faces in preparation for the planting and seeding works as well as the erection of safety fencing and road signs. Within this same area and near Cawston Brook, some ecology ponds which are being excavated.
At Sow Brook Bridge, the concrete bridge deck has been poured and work is continuing on constructing the edge features to support the parapets.
The reinforced earth retaining wall between Sow Brook Bridge and Lawford Road and nearly 400m long, is now nearing completion.
Lawford Road Junction is now nearing completion. Where the new tarmac abuts the existing road, it will be necessary to completely close the road to enable the work to be done in safety. This is planned for some time in November. Pedestrian traffic will not be affected, and the properties of Paynes Lane will still have access. However this will have to be from the direction of Long Lawford. A diversion route from Rugby Town Centre will be set up.
The base of the tunnel which is to connect the quarries on either side of Parkfield Road has been poured and the steel fixing and erection of the shutters for the walls is continuing.
The precast parapet units have lifted into place on Parkfield Road Railway Bridge and the earthworks for the approach embankments are nearing completion.
The parapets and brickwork to the cladding of the Avon River Bridge is are now complete so the bridge is looking very nearly finished. Work on shaping the ground under the decks including the provision of “Grass-Crete” is currently being carried out.
Between the Avon River Bridge and the new Newbold Road Roundabout the earthworks have been completed, the kerbs have been laid and the surfacing layer has been laid up to the penultimate layer. The final layer of surfacing will not be laid until just before the opening of the relief road.
The drainage and kerb works on Newbold Road between the Avon Valley School between the roundabout near Avon Valley School and Avon Mill Roundabout is currently being carried out. This has required the employment of temporary traffic and these are likely to be in use for several weeks until this length of road is completed. However, every effort will be made to try and have them removed on the few weeks leading up to Christmas.
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Safety fence erection end excavation of ecology ponds
Reinforced Earth Retaining Wall
Sow Brook Bridge
Lawford Road Junction nearly finished
Steel fixing for Cemex Tunnel
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Parkfield Railway Bridge | 
Newbold Rd Roundabout to Avon River Bridge | 
River Avon Bridge |
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9 September 2009
In the area of Bilton Lane Junction the street lighting columns and the acoustic fencing are currently being erected. This fencing will provide the nearby homes and residential areas with protection against traffic noise.
At Sow Brook Bridge, precast concrete beams have recently been successfully lifted into place. The fixing of the reinforcing steel and the erection of shutters in preparation for pouring the bridge deck is presently being carried out.
The length of reinforced earth retaining wall between Sow Brook Bridge and Lawford Road, is progressing and is now well out of the ground.
Lawford Road Junction, which will be the largest at level signalised junction in Warwickshire is progressing well. It is planned that tarmac will be laid by early October, which will protect the lower layers of the road construction from the winter weather. Where the new tarmac abuts the existing road, it will be necessary to completely close the road to enable the work to be done in safety. This is planned for some time in November. Pedestrian traffic will not be affected, and the properties of Paynes Lane will still have access. However this will have to be from the direction of Long Lawford. A diversion route from Rugby Town Centre will be set up.
The excavation for the tunnel to connect the quarries on either side of Parkfield Road is nearing completion and work on the structure will soon start. The faces of the excavation are so steep that they have been strengthened using a system of sprayed on concrete and soil nailing. This has resulted in it being a slow process.
Most of the precast parapet units have lifted into place on Parkfield Road Railway Bridge. Like most operations associated with this bridge, this was carried out when the railway line was closed to rail traffic. It was therefore done overnight during recent weekends.
Newbold Road Roundabout which is very close to the large Avon Valley School has now progressed to the point where in can function as a roundabout so the temporary traffic signals have been removed. The access to Yates Avenue, Forsted Road and The Glebe Estate has also been reinstated. A considerable amount of effort was put in to ensure that this stage was reached before the start of the school term, and this target was reached with 3 days to spare. The County Council and the Contractors, Carillion, would like to thank the people who live and travel in this area for their co-operation and patience during August when the unavoidable disruption was at its most severe.
Work is continuing on the Avon Mill Roundabout but at the moment this is being done under local road narrowing so has not caused a great deal of traffic disruption. However in a few weeks there will be the need for temporary traffic signals but this will be kept to a minimum, and when possible will only operate during off-peak times.
Upon completion of the Avon Mill Roundabout, strengthening and widening of the existing carriageway up to Newbold Road Roundabout will be carried out. Much of this work will be done under traffic signals and convoy, so certain traffic delays will be inevitable. Again, as much of this operation as possible will be done at off-peak times.
It is hoped that all this work will be completed by the beginning of December to avoid causing disruption to pre-Christmas traffic.
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Beam being lifted into place at Sow Brook Bridge
Work progressing on the reinforced earth retaining wall near Sow Brook
Excavation near completion at Cemex Tunnel
Parkfield Road railway bridge nearing completion
Newbold roundabout immediately after being opened |
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30 July 2009
The majority of road building activity between Potfords Dam Roundabout and Sow Brook Bridge including the link between Cawston Roundabout and the Cawston Grange Estate has now been completed. In this area activities including the top-soiling of the verges, carrying out various items of drainage work and constructing the pedestrian/cycleway are continuing.
Earthmoving operations adjacent to Sow Brook are being carried out to provide a crane platform which will be employed to lift the prestressed concrete beams into place. It is expected that this operation will be in mid-August.
A long length of retaining wall is required for most of the distance between Sow Brook Bridge and Lawford Road, as there is insufficient space available to build a conventional embankment between the Relief Road, and the properties of the Paynes Lane Estate. This retaining wall is to be of reinforced earth and construction works has just started.
The old hump backed bridge carrying Lawford Road over the disused railway was successfully taken down in July and work is continuing on removing the approach embankments which date back to 1850. The material from which these embankments had been constructed has been found to be of a good quality so is now being used to build the embankments for the new road between Newbold Road and the new bridge over the River Avon. The removal of the bridge and its approach embankments will allow the construction of Lawford Road Junction to progress. When completed this will be the largest signalised junction in Warwickshire.
Construction of the tunnel to connect the quarries on either side of Parkfield Road is continuing. Because of the limited working space and the faces of the excavation are so steep they are having to be strengthened using a system of sprayed on concrete and soil nailing.
The concrete deck of Parkfield Road Railway Bridge has recently been cast, and precast parapet units will be lifted into place in the next few weeks. Like most operations associated with this bridge, it can only be carried out when the railway line is closed to rail traffic, so it will be done overnight on two consecutive weekends
The on-road work for Newbold Road Roundabout is now progressing with temporary traffic lights and it is inevitable that traffic delays will occur. However, by working long days and weekends, it is hoped that these lights will be removed before the start on the new school term. It is regretted that during the week commencing 10 August, the existing access and exit roads to Yates Avenue and Forsted Road from Newbold Road, will be totally closed to vehicle traffic. This will be for a period of up to three weeks. It is appreciated how inconvenient this will be so every effort be made to try to reduce the time. Residents of the Glebe Estate who use these roads will be diverted to the junction with Leicester Road.
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Sow Brook Bridge
Construction of embankment between Avon Bridge and Newbold Road
Excavations for Cemex Tunnel
Cemex Tunnel - Soil Nailing Sides of Excavation
Parkfield Road Railway Bridge - after deck pour
Newbold Road Roundabout under Construction
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