Tuesday 28 July 2015

Bucks roads improving as programme's first quarter completes

Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) have now completed the first quarter of their resurfacing programme, and with a substantial number of finished sites tucked under their belt, they are getting on with the second quarter and more hard work.
The programme kicked off on the 1 April, and since then TfB have been working through their schedule of over 320 schemes. This schedule consists of:
• Over 90 conventional surfacing schemes.
• Over 150 micro surfacing schemes.
• 30 surface dressing schemes.
• 50 footway surfacing schemes.

The following progress has been made:
• 18 conventional carriageway surfacing schemes have been completed, equating to 80,000m² of road surface.
• Preparatory work is in progress on micro surfacing and surface dressing schemes in readiness for the major work at a later date.
• Micro-surfacing programme is now in progress
• Almost half of all conventional footway surfacing schemes have been completed – ahead of schedule
• Footway preparatory work has begun for slurry surfacing schemes

Looking ahead, TfB are about to commence the schemes that have been subject to BCC’s benchmarking exercise, which demonstrates TfB is delivering value for money and compares favourably with levels and standards being achieved nationally. This will comprise 40 resurfacing schemes.

In addition to this, they aim to achieve by the end of September:
• Completion of over 50% of the conventional surfacing programme.
• Completion of the surface dressing programme.
• Completion of 40% of the micro surfacing programme.
• Start of benchmarking schemes on site.
• Start of footway slurry surfacing schemes on site.
• Start of high friction surfacing programme.
• Start of plane and patch schemes on site.

In addition, a further £3m plane and patch programme has been identified which will be spread over two years. A site list has been drawn up and added to the programme to be underway by the end of September.

Paul Irwin, Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport at Buckinghamshire County Council said, “We have made brilliant progress with our resurfacing programme and are ahead of schedule in some areas. The good weather has helped us, along with a great delivery team who are highly experienced in managing schemes of this magnitude. I’m looking forward to a successful second quarter and some more excellent improvements to our County’s roads.”

TfB has received some great feedback for schemes that they have completed during this quarter. Silverstone Circuit Ltd said, "Buckinghamshire County Council rose to the challenge... the works have been completed in good time for the 2015 Formula One British Grand Prix, meaning customers, as well as local road users will benefit from the much improved surface."

And West Wycombe Parish Council commented that, "The job was finished perfectly on time and we really appreciate everyone's hard work. Thank you BCC/TfB."

TfB couldn’t complete their packed programme without high quality contractors, and this season they have issued two ‘Gold Notices’ – one to Eurovia for their work on The Pastures in High Wycombe, and one to Stabilised Pavements for their work on Silverstone Road, Dadford. These notices reinforce and recognise good practice and are only awarded for the very highest quality of delivery.