Construction of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NDR) haspassed the six-month milestone and is progressing well.
Since the start of the year the project has moved swiftly through preparatory phases, including environmental works, archaeology and site clearance, and on into the main excavations. Three quarters of a million cubic metres of material has already been excavated by Balfour Beatty, the main contractor for the 20km dual carriageway, which is currently the largest local authority-led road construction project in the country.
On Norwich NDR, the mainly mild winter and dry spring has seen the project move through site preparation into main construction. Good progress during these early months has been made, but recent wet weather has slowed things down slightly. Even so, progress and achievements to date have been considerable, including:
- 300 ha of site clearance, with archaeological investigations complete on 18 ha.
- Significant environmental work completed, including 1,500 toads, frogs and newts (including 350 great crested newts) cleared from site using 7km of amphibian fence, bucket traps and Rocky the newt sniffer dog. Two bat roost houses built, plus 81 bat roost boxes put up on trees.
- 26 km of fencing
- 21 utility service diversions
- A high pressure gas main diversion.
- Construction of eight plant crossings and nine site access points.
- Seven drainage lagoons excavated, 400 metres of drainage pipe installed, and a ditch to protect the Wensum Valley.
- 512,000 cubic metres of topsoil stripped.
- 240,000 cubic metres of bulk excavation, with 40,000 cubic metres of gravel stockpiled.
- Concrete bases complete on Buxton Road bridge, piling complete at Plumstead Road bridge and underway at Middle Road bridge, service and route diversions complete to allow work to start on the Marriotts Way green bridge.
The Norwich NDR programmed contract completion date remains as February 2018, but the joint Balfour Beatty and Norfolk County Council team, with design and ecological support from Mott MacDonald, have set themselves a target of having the road open to traffic by Christmas 2017. The projects £178.95m total cost (including the Postwick junction) is being closely monitored and measures to reduce the risk of an overspend are in place, with a drive to contain and reduce costs through ongoing ‘value engineering’ wherever possible.
The target for the next six months includes the completion of roundabouts at Fakenham, Fir Covert and Reepham Roads, the start of works on other roundabouts and the realignment of Drayton Lane, the start of construction on more bridges, further utility service diversions, drainage and fencing, and the start of some of the projects significant landscaping.
Martin Wilby, Chairman of the EDT Committee, said: “The construction team have set themselves a very challenging target of having traffic using the NDR before the end of next year (2017), and have made tremendous progress so far, regardless of the recent unhelpful weather. I am confident that the joint Balfour Beatty, County Council and Mott MacDonald team are on track to deliver the project as planned.”
The NDR is the biggest single project in the overall ‘Transport for Norwich’ delivery plans, which are drawn from the Norwich Area Transport Strategy. The committee will also receive updates on other Transport for Norwich schemes, including the Golden Ball Street and Westlegate project in Norwich city centre. The report also recommends that an enhancement to one of the existing roundabouts on the Postwick junction to improve the flow of traffic and reduce short-lived peak-hour queues for traffic coming from the east (Acle and Gt Yarmouth direction).
In addition to hearing about work on the NDR councillors will also consider a report on a possible ‘Western Link Project’, which would consider the transport issues between the A1067 and A47 to the west of the city. The committee will consider some proposed first steps and whether to agree funding to allow further studies to be carried out over the next year to provide more information on traffic and environmental matters.
