Newsletter No 15. Week Commencing Monday 22nd February. First published Friday 19th February 2021.
This newsletter is to provide you with an update on the Greengates Junction Improvement works. On Monday 4th January 2021 the UK Government ordered a national lockdown in England,but confirmed that the construction industry may continue as it has done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to assure you that, in line with government guidance, construction on Greengates junction will continue as normal. Please note traffic management measures remain in place at Greengates junction to enable us to work on all four arms of the junction. Please plan your journey accordingly if you are passing through the junction. Additionally, we are aware that a small number of road users are making dangerous manoeuvres around the traffic management measures which jeopardise the safety of others. Should you witness any dangerous or illegal manoeuvres, please report these directly to West Yorkshire Police. We have also been receiving reports of people interfering with the traffic management measures in place, including moving cones and taking down signs. A member of the public has recently suffered an injury as a consequence of this and we urge members of the community to please keep in mind that it is illegal to tamper with traffic management measures. Doing so puts our workforce and other members of the public at risk. Howard Civil Engineering and Bradford Council would like to thank those who are driving safely through the junction. Your continued patience and understanding as we undertake improvement works are greatly appreciated.
Progress, the past two weeks
We are pleased to say that we have completed to reconstruction of the retaining wall along the new Farmfoods boundary and have placed the initial starter layer of stone which will be the foundation of the new carriageway and footpath on New Line. This initial layer will also provide a solid working platform for the utility companies undertaking service diversions. At New Line retail park, we have temporarily relocated the bin store closer to the building as we have undertaken works to extend the existing wall. This will accommodate for additional parking spaces. We have also block paved the area of extension to match the existing.
On Harrogate Road, Yorkshire Water have continued to work on the area of the junction outside Costa. We have commenced installation of Northern Powergrid ducting on Harrogate Road and this will continue onto New Line. We have also installed urban traffic control traffic signal ducts and Northern Powergrid ducts across the road into the new footway outside KFC. As there is a very high volume of services within the footways and the road, we implemented the use of a VAC-EX, a non-contact excavation apparatus, to allow for a safe method of excavation around these services.
The next two weeks
Yorkshire Water will take possession of the widened area next to the new Farmfoods boundary along New Line imminently to install their diverted main. We will continue with the road construction upon Yorkshire Water's completion of the water board works. In the meantime, Howard Civil Engineering will undertake accommodation and reinstatement works to the shop side of the wall, including the reinstatement of the footpath. This will consist of block paving to match the original. In the P-Loop area, we will install a filter drain system to allow the full removal of all saturated material and the protection of future aggregate/construction material. Upon the completion of Yorkshire Water's works we will also recommence work on New Line east from Costa to the stretch of road adjacent to Asda, and on Harrogate Road from Costa to KFC to enable the installation of Northern Powergrid ducting.
Traffic Management
Please note current traffic management measures along Harrogate Road have been relocated closer to the arm of the junction to close off the existing Farmfoods entrance while we undertake removal works on this corner. As of Sunday 18th October 2020, roads have been reduced to two lanes in all directions to enable us to progress with ongoing junction widening works. We anticipate that these traffic management measures will be in place for the foreseeable future, certainly throughout the Christmas period. Please allow extra time for travel when passing through the junction. Howard Civil Engineering have worked alongside Bradford Council to ascertain the most efficient traffic management measures to enable us to complete the junction improvement works with the highest consideration for safety of our operatives, road users and pedestrians. We apologise in advance for any disruption and delays which you may encounter as a result of these works and thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
Your site contacts
There are several ways you can contact the site team to report faults, voice any concerns or ask any questions you may have. The HRNL Junction Improvement Scheme is managed by the following members of our experienced and highly approachable team: Tony Kilbane (Contracts Manager), Simon Doling (Site Agent), Mick Bottomley (Site Supervisor) and Fahd Mahmood (Site Engineer). Please rest assured there will always be a representative on site during working hours should you have you questions about the scheme. To contact Howard Civil Engineering remotely, please contact your Community Liaison Officer, Sophie Henderson, at greengates.junction@howardcivileng.co.uk or contact 07793654086. To contact a member of Bradford Council, please contact David Aspinall via email at david.aspinall@bradford.gov.uk.
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