Decision details

The committee considered a report on the Decision to Let a Construction Contract for the Middlewich Eastern Bypass.

The Middlewich Eastern Bypass scheme would improve the highway network in Middlewich by relieving congestion and road safety concerns in Middlewich town centre, improving journey times in mid Cheshire and enabling the full development of Strategic Location LPS 44 (Midpoint 18) in the adopted Local Plan Strategy. The Scheme, which was partly in Cheshire West and Chester, will support the economic growth of the Cheshire and Warrington sub-region.

A Target Cost for the construction phase of the scheme had been agreed with the Contractor at £53.8M. This included the full scope of the Cledford Lane element and would take advantage of a shorter programme taking account of new information on ground conditions and starting as early in the Spring as possible.

The Target cost programme and cost assumes that certain time sensitive elements are undertaken in February and March in advance of the formal construction contract being entered into.

The updated total cost estimate, inclusive of risk, property and sunk costs was contained in restricted Appendix C.

Whilst it remained within the MTFS budget envelope, to maximise the available risk allowance at the start of the project a decision to proceed with the full scope of the Cledford Lane element of the scheme would be deferred until later in the construction phase. The potential savings associated with the value engineering option were set out in restricted Appendix C.

Councillor G Marshall, speaking in his role as the ward councillor for Middlewich, asked what impact the opening of the Bypass would have on Lewin Street and Leadsmithy Street.

Officers confirmed that reduced traffic flows were anticipated. There would be post?implementation checks required and complimentary measures planned.

Councillor G Marshall left the meeting and did not return.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the Highways and Transport Committee

1. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the committee or appropriate Cabinet Member(s) to:

(a) enter Stage 2 of the construction contract under the SCAPE framework

(b) attend to any matters ancillary to entering Stage 2 as noted above

(c) agree any variations to the Construction Contract in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of this committee or appropriate Cabinet Member(s)

2. Agree that the Head of Infrastructure to be appointed as the Project Manager under the Contract.

3. Authorise the Head of Infrastructure to instruct the Contractor to bring forward the works set out in Appendix A into Stage 1 of the Contract to allow delivery prior to a formal award of contract.

4. Authorise the initial Cledford Lane Value engineering design is incorporated into the project programme for initial delivery – as shown in Appendix B of the report.

5. Delegate to the Executive Director of Place in consultation, with the Chair and Vice Chair of the committee or appropriate Cabinet Member(s) the timing and contractual arrangements for the further Cledford Lane elements of the scheme.

6. Approve that the Executive Director of Place explore other options to secure additional funding to support the scheme contingency budget and full delivery of Cledford Lane via the Combined Authority.

7. Note the Programme, assumptions, full estimated budget and risk allowance for the scheme as contained in restricted Appendix C to the report.

8. Note the requirement to implement the Compulsory Purchase Order, including for the full delivery of Cledford Lane and the linked land property agreements prior to the formal Stage 2 construction contract.