Integrated working adds value

May Gurney Utility Services and Infrastructure Services divisions are working in partnership to deliver 'value engineering' solutions for Kent County Council, on Phase 1C of the East Kent Access project.

The highway scheme, to upgrade the A256 road between Sandwich and Ramsgate to dual carriageway, is valued at £10m, and the associated utility works are worth a further £2m.

Working closely with Jacobs, the council's designers and project managers, Utility Services has developed a number of innovative and cost saving solutions for the water and wastewater elements of the project.

During the early stages, Utility Services undertook trial holing and investigations to assess the type and location of utilities - and validate the original diversion plans. The results indicated that several proposed diversions required amending to meet the site conditions - and these amendments improved the final approach to the works.

The A256 and the existing services cross Stonar Cut, a flood relief channel controlled by sluice gates. Utility Services suggested changing the material for the water mains pipes from the originally specified ductile iron to welded steel. This eliminated the need for a pipe-bridge as the welded steel pipe-work can be erected as self-supporting, thus reducing the load on the piled foundations.

Utility diversions commenced in October 2005 and will continue for about 12 months. Tim Read, Utility Services Managing Director, said: "It's good to be able to support another May Gurney sector and enable our client to benefit from the specialist in-house knowledge of our Utility Services' teams.

"The East Kent Access project demonstrates how, as an integrated service provider, we can add value and directly benefit our clients."

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