Open Report on behalf of Richard Wills, Executive Director for Environment and Economy

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1 Agenda Item 7 Executive Open Report on behalf of Richard Wills, Executive Director for Environment and Economy Report to: Executive Date: 02 September 2014 Subject: Lincoln East West Link Road Phase 1 - Approval to Award Main Contract Decision Reference: I Key decision? Yes Summary: The purpose of this report is to seek Executive Members approval to award the main construction contract for the Lincoln East West Link Road Phase 1, subject to the submitted tender costs not exceeding 10.4m. Recommendation(s): That Lincolnshire County Council approve the award of the main contract for the Lincoln East West Link Road Phase 1 subject to the submitted tender costs not exceeding 10.4m Alternatives Considered: 1. Not to approve the award of the main contract. The scheme could not proceed in these circumstances. Reasons for Recommendation: In order to allow the award of the main contract which will allow the construction of the Lincoln East West Link Road Phase Background 1.1 Summary The Lincoln East West Link Road is one of the County Council's priority schemes as identified in the County Council Business Plan It is a major part of the Lincoln Transport Strategy and contributes to the wider aims of the city by facilitating growth and regeneration. It is supported by the City of Lincoln Page 1

2 Council, West Lindsey and North Kesteven District Councils and many other key stakeholders The East West Link Road proposal in its entirety would run from the Ropewalk roundabout to the junction of South Park Avenue and Canwick Road. However, during the development of the scheme, it was split into a number of phases to enable different parts to be developed at different times as judged to be appropriate. This report relates only to Phase 1 of the overall scheme and this consists of a new or improved road running from the junction of the High Street/Tentercroft Street along the line of Tentercroft Street and then through the former coal yard before linking into Kesteven Street and Portland Street and thereby to Canwick Road/Pelham Bridge The original East West Link Road proposal was intended to assist with the regeneration of the central part of Lincoln. Phase 1 brings many of these benefits; in particular it will:- Mitigate against the impact of Network Rail's soon to be completed, GNGE line upgrade increasing rail freight traffic through Lincoln city centre by providing an alternative route and the removal of traffic from the High Street level crossing. Enable the pedestrianisation of the High Street between St Mary's Street and Tentercroft Street. Create space for a footbridge over the level crossing in the High Street. Improve bus priority links through the city centre. Facilitate the regeneration of Tentercroft Street and the former coal yard Support wider city centre regeneration and growth objectives including the Western Growth Corridor, Lindongate and the further development of the university. Improve Portland Street by reducing traffic volumes and providing an alternative bus route In July 2010 a consultation exercise was undertaken to engage with the public, stakeholders and members. Because of the physical constraints of the area only one route was presented. The consultation was well attended and the feedback received was very positive with nearly 90% supporting the need for the road and nearly 80% supporting the selected route and similarly 80% supporting the pedestrianisation of the High Street between St Mary's Street and Tentercroft Street In February 2011, LCC Executive gave approval to:- Adopt the Preferred Route for the road and protect it from further development Make an application to seek planning permission for the Scheme. The planning application was made in February The submission included for Conservation Area Consent to obtain permission to demolish the buildings that form the south east corner of the High Street/Tentercroft Street. The Secretary of State granted Conservation Area Consent in November 2012 and the planning Page 2

3 consent was confirmed at the same time. A condition of the planning consent for the new road requires the construction of a new building to replace the building demolished by way of the conservation area consent On 6 th March 2012, LCC's Executive members approved a Land Acquisition Strategy for the purchase of key sites required to safeguard delivery of the scheme In July 2013, LCC Executive gave approval for the making of Side Roads and Compulsory Purchase Orders and in June 2014 the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed the Orders. Therefore all the necessary legal consents are in place for the scheme to start. 1.2 The Scheme in Detail A Scheme plan is enclosed in Appendix 1. The Scheme will provide a link from the High Street at its junction with Tentercroft Street, through to Canwick Road at Pelham Bridge. The High Street, north of Tentercroft Street as far as St Mary's Street will be pedestrianised, the only vehicular traffic permitted will be that needed to service the business needs of frontage buildings and that will take place during restricted hours Tentercroft Street will be widened and a new bridge over the Sincil Drain will be constructed. A new road will be made from this point, under Pelham Bridge before linking into Kesteven Street at its junction with Great Northern Terrace. The new road will also link in to Cross Street and the eastern part of Portland Street to provide a link to the northbound carriageway on Canwick Road The High Street/Tentercroft Street junction will be improved to provide greater capacity and improved turning capability for larger vehicles. The existing entrance into the Tentercroft Street car park will be closed and a new entrance created opposite the entrance to the Magistrates court The existing entrance to the Lincoln Central Industrial Park will be closed and replaced by a new link formed at the junction with Cross Street. This will also create a new link into the northern half of the former coal yard which will facilitate its redevelopment Portland Street will be stopped up at its junction with Cross Street. This will mean that the western section will be returned to a much quieter, essentially residential street. The eastern section provides an essential link onto Canwick Road All of the major junctions will be signalised. This will improve traffic flows, allow a system of bus priority and provide safe pedestrian crossing facilities New quieter facilities for cyclists will be introduced along Portland Street linking into the existing Sincil Bank and Firth Road cycle routes. The north side of Page 3

4 the Scheme to the east of Sincil Drain will have a shared pedestrian/cycle path linking to Great Northern Terrace The Scheme includes for the construction of a replacement building on the south east corner of the High Street and Tentercroft Street. A planning condition requires that this building must be erected at the same time as the new road Finally, the scheme includes for a financial provision towards works that will be completed under a separate scheme called Lincoln, Canwick Road Improvements. This scheme is detached from the East West Link Road Phase 1 but the South Park Avenue improvements are within the full scheme and significant benefits have been identified by undertaking this work at this time. The Canwick Road scheme which includes South Park Avenue has attracted Pinchpoint funding from the Department of Transport but LCC has to match fund a proportion of the costs. A separate approval will be sought to expend this money once a tender has been received Funding The County Council Highways Capital budget for the Scheme is m which comprises:- Growth point funds Highways Capital Programme Economy Capital programme 6.022m 15.0m 1.772m The total estimated cost of the scheme falls within this budget. Therefore there is no impediment to funding the Scheme. 1.4 Expenditure to date LCC has committed significant monies to the development of this scheme to date amounting to 7.42m. The main headings are:- Miscellaneous fees and costs 194,000 Detail design 805,000 Legal costs (SRO/CPO) 128,000 Utility diversions (advance orders/payments) 695,000 Land assembly to date 5,598,000 In the event of the scheme not progressing, the design and legal costs will be lost Approval to make advance payment to the utility companies was given by the Executive Councillor for Policy, Finance, Property, Communications, Procurement and Commissioning in May In the event of the Scheme not proceeding, these payments are refundable, less any costs already committed by the utilities. Page 4

5 1.5 The Main Contract A tender has been issued through the Midlands Highways Alliance Framework Contract and three contractors have been invited to submit a tender. These are Balfour Beatty, Galliford Try/Aggregate Industries joint venture and Carillion/Lafarge Tarmac joint venture At the request of the contractors, the return date has been put back from 1st August to 26th August and so this report is made before a full tender appraisal has been completed. However, all of the contractors have prequalified for the Midlands Highways Alliance and are considered to be eminently suitable for this type of works. The contract award can be made to the contractor assessed to have submitted the most advantageous tender to LCC This contract covers all of the main aspects of the scheme with the exception of the traffic signals installation which will be undertaken by LCC's specialist contractor Imtech and the diversion of utility apparatus which will be undertaken by owning utility company The main contract therefore includes earthworks, drainage, new highway, structures, street lighting and signs and markings. It also includes the replacement building at the corner of the High Street and Tentercroft Street as required in the planning consent The estimated value of the main contract is 9.45m. The traffic signals installation works which will be ordered at the same time is estimated to cost 350,000. These estimates could be affected by estimating variances and/or market forces and so a contingency sum of 10% has been allowed in updating the scheme estimates in the paragraph below. 1.6 Estimated Scheme costs Based upon accepting a tender at this value the estimated scheme costs are:- Item Value Detail design 850,000 Legal costs 220,000 Utility Diversions 923,000 Ground Investigations and testing 375,000 Land assembly costs 6,695,000 Traffic Signals Installation 350,000 Main contract 9,450,000 Contingency on tender prices (see above) 980,000 Site supervision 680,000 Miscellaneous 750,000 Total 21,273,000 Budget 22,794,000 Scheme contingency /contribution towards Lincoln Canwick Road Improvement Scheme 1,521,000 Page 5

6 1.6.2 Based upon accepting a tender sum assessed at up to 10,400,000, the scheme is within budget and allows an ongoing contingency sum and also a contribution towards the Lincoln, Canwick Road Improvement Scheme. 1.7 Programme The initial programme for Phase 1 was driven by the need to create an alternative route for vehicular traffic away from the High Street level crossing which will become increasingly more congested as Network Rail increase the volume of freight traffic passing through Lincoln city centre. There has been some delay to Network Rail's proposal due in part to the need for major engineering works at Peterborough but this is now nearing completion and Lincoln can expect to see additional rail freight traffic in the future The main contract is expected to take up to 2 years to complete. 2. Conclusion 2.1 The award of the main contract is the last key approval required for the delivery of the Lincoln East West Link Road Phase 1. LCC Executive are requested to approve the award of the main contract to the contractor judged to have submitted the most advantageous tender providing that the tender does not exceed 10.4m. 3. Legal Comments: The recommendations are lawful and consequently the decisions are within the remit of the Executive so long as they are not contrary to and are wholly in accordance with the budget. 4. Resource Comments: Approval of this report will allow the award of the contract to construct phase 1 of the Lincoln East West Link, this will commit the Council to a maximum 10.4m of capital expenditure. This phase will be funded from the overall Lincoln East West Link budget that is contained in the Council's current capital programme. Page 6

7 5. Consultation a) Has Local Member Been Consulted? Yes b) Has Executive Councillor Been Consulted? Yes c) Scrutiny Comments This has not been considered by a scrutiny committee. d) Policy Proofing Actions Required n/a 6. Appendices These are listed below and attached at the back of the report Appendix A Lincoln East West Link Road Phase 1 - Scheme Plan 7. Background Papers No background papers within Section 100D of the Local Government Act 1972 were used in the preparation of this report. This report was written by Les Davies, who can be contacted on or les.davies@lincolnshire.gov.uk. Page 7

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