Fiddington Infrastructure, Tewkesbury

This contract provides another example of Montel’s ability undertake complex highways and traffic management schemes in full consultation with not only local authority’s roads and highways teams but also with National Highways and their staff and stakeholders. The area immediately to the east of the M5 junction 9 has been identified within Gloucestershire County Council’s Joint Core Strategy as a prime location for both commercial and residential development. Working with the site developer we have carried the first four phases of infrastructure on and around the existing A46 Trunk Road (National Highways (formerly Highways England)) to facilitate the commencement of this work. The main construction works comprise of:

• Widening of the A46 to a two-lane dual carriageway (with turning lanes) between M5 Junction 9 and the Gloucestershire County Council Alexandra Way.
• Upgrade to the A46 westbound access onto the M5 junction roundabout.
• Re-modelling of the signalised Alexandra Way junction and construction of a fourth arm to create access into the land south of the A46.
• Re-alignment of Fiddington Lane to the west of its current location, with the existing carriageway retained as a pedestrian and cycle route, with the construction of a new roundabout at the southern end of the realignment complete with an access spur to serve the land south of the A46.
• Diversion of strategic statutory authority apparatus.
• Upgrading the Fiddington Lane junction from a priority junction to a traffic signal-controlled junction linked to the existing signalised junction with Northway Lane to create a staggered crossroads.
• Construction of new signalised pedestrian crossing facilities on the A46.
• Creation of a new uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point on the A46 with a pedestrian refuge island, between the Alexandra Way and Northway Lane junctions.
• The provision of new bus stops on both sides of the A46 in the vicinity of the Alexandra Way junction.
• Modifications to the existing drainage system and construction of attenuation basin.
• Modifications to the existing street lighting.
• The construction of new on-site infrastructure; to facilitate the access and egress to a new Dobbies garden centre.
• The construction of the external works to the new garden centre.
• The installation of all new (foul and storm water) sewers including the construction a new new wet well and associated pumping station – complete with overflow tank.
• The formation of a new road to the south of the development to provide access to the proposed residential development – including the construction of a new bridge over the Tirle Brook and four pre-cast culvert crossings to the flood plain surrounding this water course.

On this scheme traffic management was key to the project success and our proactive approach to liaison with the client, National Highways and the Council’s network management team enabled the complex traffic management required to be installed and maintained in a manner that ensured disruption to traffic leaving the M5 was prevented. Further to this, and due to the success of the preceding phases, our client is currently negotiating further works with Montel – which require the widening of the M5 northbound off-slip and gyratory section of junction 9 itself.

19/08/2022

We’ve had a successful week installing the abutments for the new bridge over Tirle Brook – and we are now preparing for the placement of the pre-cast concrete beams during early September. Works are progressing well with the new carriageway either side of the bridge with the earthworks now nearing completion. We hope to have the new traffic lights on the junction of the A46 and Alexandra Way operational next week, and (subject to safety checks) the traffic management will be removed shortly thereafter. Works are due to start on the widening of the M5 (junction 9) northbound off-slip after the Bank Holiday and we would advise people planning to use this route that lane one will be closed for the duration of the scheme.

July 2022

We have moved the traffic management on the A46 into our phase 3 section of works and are currently on programme to complete the highway works by late summer/early autumn 2022. Works are nearing completion on the new garden centre, with the imminent handover to Dobbies bringing about a conclusion to our works on this exciting new feature.

Why are the works needed?

The land to the south of the A46 has been allocated for new residential and commercial development – with there being a new retail centre and garden centre due for construction immediately alongside the existing trunk road. Further south, it is proposed that the land is used for residential development, and in order to provide a safe and controlled access and egress for both customers of the retail units, and the residents within the new housing, these works are required to provide these junctions, along with the additional capacity that the roadworks will bring.

What works are Montel undertaking?

Due to the scale of the scheme, there are many aspects to the works we’re carrying out, but the principal items are:

• The installation of over 3km of foul and storm water drainage networks.
• The construction of a new foul water pumping station complete with a pressure main discharging into the existing Severn Trent Water network.
• The upgrade of the junctions along the A46 where they meet Alexandra Way and Fiddington Lane. There is also a new roundabout on Fiddington Lane to provide an alternative access to the new retail and residential developments.
• The construction of over 2km of new carriageway to provide access routes to the development parcels.
• The facilitation of new communications, electric, gas and water utilities for the new retail and residential developments – including off-site reinforcement works and sub-stations.
• The construction of a new bridge over Tirle Brook and the installation of precast concrete box culverts to provide a route under the new access road for potential floodwater to pass. The existing flood plain has been re-modelled in order to provide further attenuation for storm water and so as to protect the downstream areas affected by Tirle Brook in flood conditions.

How long will the work take?

The project began in November 2020 and (with the current scope) is expected to be completed Autumn 2022.

Will there be a lot more traffic?

Unfortunately, but through necessity, we will need to have a significant number of deliveries made to site in order to provide the materials required to construct the works. It is our intention to use the most local suppliers we can in order to achieve this, but it will mean numerous additional vehicles will have to access and egress our site.

How will the traffic be controlled?

In order to provide safe environments for both members of the public and our own workforce, there will be extensive traffic management implemented along the A46. All measures will have been agreed with both the National Highways and Gloucestershire County Council Highways teams prior to implementation – and it will be inspected (at least twice) daily by our specialist traffic management contractor.

What days will Montel be working?

Generally, Monday to Friday 7:30am to 6pm, and Saturdays between 07.30 and 13.00 – although there may be occasions where we need to work beyond this in order to complete specific activities. No works will be undertaken on Bank Holidays or Sundays.

Will there be a lot of mud, noise and dust?

Dust and noise is levels are monitored throughout the day. Our machinery has the latest technology in noise suppression, and the type of works required should produce minimal dust. We will be carrying out regular cleaning of the roads to ensure that these are kept as clean as possible at all stages of the infrastructure construction.