A30 Bodmin - Indian Queens Improvement
Project Introduction
This was the first full Early Contract Involvement scheme to be
commissioned by the Highways Agency. It was awarded to Alfred
McAlpine who appointed Scott Wilson as Designer in July 2002. The
scheme budget is £93m.
Project background
The existing A30 trunk road is the principal route for all
traffic travelling through Cornwall. West of Bodmin it was a single
carriageway carrying with flows of 25,000 vpd, well in excess of
capacity, causing infamous bottle-necks, especially during summer
months. It also severed the Goss Moor National Nature Reserve, an
Special Area of Conservation with protection under European
Law.
Scott Wilson was required to design a solution that solved the
severe traffic problem whilst preventing the sensitive
environmental areas from being adversely impacted.
Project Scope
The Highways Agency needed a solution that addressed their
objectives of reducing congestion and improving road safety whilst
minimising the impact on the environmental sectors. They also
required fast track delivery, with a target of 5 years from award
of the ECI contract to completion, approximately half the typical
duration for a large scheme.
Scott Wilson provided expert advice on engineering design,
statutory procedures and environmental matters. These included
management, highways, geotechnical, structural and traffic
engineering at preliminary and detailed design; preparation of
Orders, provision of expert witness and technical support at Public
Inquiry; environmental surveys, assessment and mitigation and
construction supervisor.
Value Adding Project Achievements
The project was delivered to the fast track schedule opening to
traffic in July 2007 ahead of programme and within the Target Cost.
Partnerships developed by our staff with environmental groups and
local authorities enabled the scheme to be developed with their
input so that environmental impacts on the SAC were reduced. The
scheme has been commended as an example of cooperation for the
successful delivery of highways projects in sensitive environmental
areas.
