Part of the Eastern Highways Alliance Framework, this project involved the upgrade of a 2.8 kilometre stretch of the A421, from Junction 13 to the Eagle Farm roundabout, which is used by almost 30,000 vehicles a day.
The upgrade increases capacity for the A421, reducing traffic on local roads and offering improved safety and journey times.
Project fact:
This project used the UK’s only long reach piling rig, to reduce the import of materials to create piling platforms and enable use of the existing carriageway.
Completed in 18 months, we delivered full carriageway reconstruction, complex traffic management and temporary works, the demolition and reconstruction of Cranfield Road bridge, and construction of a steel trussed bridleway bridge. Work also included site clearance, earthworks, embankments, balancing ponds and highway drainage.
Making a difference
Due to the number of local stakeholders, our community engagement work throughout the project was vital. Our stakeholder manager coordinated weekly visits with local stakeholders, and organised fundraising events for local charities, and produced a monthly newsletter.
Project funders SEMLEP (South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership) described our community engagement activity as exemplary and ‘second to none’.
We also used the latest plant technology from Trimble Earthworks, which includes 'smart mode' engine optimisation features to reduce our carbon footprint and increase productivity.
Our project team featured seven people working in either graduate, apprentice or QUEST scholar roles; of these, six were from from the local area.
