M1: Northamptonshire

(asked on 7th November 2014) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reasons are for the time taken to complete the roadworks on the M1 approach to and after the Watford Gap.


Answered by
John Hayes Portrait
John Hayes
This question was answered on 17th November 2014

The M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme commenced on site in August 2014 and is due to be completed July 2015.

The M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme is replacing the existing steel barrier with new Rigid Concrete Barrier that is essential maintenance.  In addition to this maintenance the following work will also be carried out: -

  • removal of the life expired lighting along the M1 J19 to 16

  • replacement verge lighting will be installed around Watford Gap Motorway Service Area

  • drainage work and installation of traffic management tools i.e. CCTV cameras. The programme was developed during contract negotiations and is being rigorously adhered to by the Contractor.

The Contractor employed to undertake the M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme is BMJV, a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Morgen Sindall.

The M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme construction cost is £35M. There is also a Smart Motorway Scheme under development for this stretch of the motorway.

Regarding why there was nobody working on the road works on the M1 approach to and after the Watford Gap on 7 November 2014 at and around noon, it is impossible to know the exact numbers physically on site as operatives have breaks at staggered times. We can confirm the following for numbers of operatives and activities undertaken on that day: -

  • 27 operatives working along with length of works demolishing bridge piers, installing ducts and chambers including inserting a sub-duct to existing ready for reusing.

  • 9 operatives working plant such as excavators along the length of works.

  • 4 operatives conducting testing on ground conditions along with other tests along with length of the works.

  • 2 operatives plus 2 engineers inside launch pit situated in the centre of carriageway (not visible from road level) installing new drainage duct.

  • 6 operatives working on Traffic Management, going the length of the works ensuring the traffic management is maintained.

  • 1 operative removing material from site using vacuum excavator.

  • 7 operatives using planning plant, planning material off the surface down to a required level.  Activity also requires a number of wagons to haul the material away.

  • BMJV also had 4 supervisors out on site along with 6 engineers inspecting and surveying along with length of the works.

We are undertaking renewal works to the central reserve barrier on the M1 between junctions 16 and 19. We shall also be looking to replace the life expired barrier between J15 and 16 as part of this works.

From environmental and safety studies we are removing the life expired lighting along the M1 between Junctions 19 and 16. Replacement verge lighting will be installed around Watford Gap Motorway Service Area as part of the smart motorways design and upgrade.

This work will support the delivery of a future smart motorway scheme between junctions 16 and 19. This scheme is presently in development and will be subject to completion of statutory processes (including environmental assessments), deliverability and value for money.

Replacement of the old central reserve steel barrier is required as part of our ongoing maintenance programme and will help with the delivery of the proposed smart motorway works on this stretch. The estimated construction cost of these works is £35 million.

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