Capita Symonds - Our work

Our work

Carlisle Northern Development Route Martin, 42

Location: Carlisle

Client: Cumbria County Council

Project timescale: 2000-38

Project Value: £142 million

The project:

It's a £142m PFI project for the construction of a 5.5 mile bypass on the west side of Carlisle including major crossings of the River Eden and the West Coast Main Line.

The project also includes the management and maintenance of 150km of the existing primary route network for a 30-year period. The main objectives of the new road are to relieve traffic congestion in Carlisle and to promote development of Kingmoor Business Park to the north of the city.

The line of the new road takes it through a number of environmentally-sensitive areas and sites of archaeological importance, which have been major considerations in its design.

What is Capita Symonds role on the project?

We're acting as Technical Advisor to Cumbria County Council with the main roles being the preparation of preliminary highway and structures design, Environmental Impact Assessments and advice on nature conservation interests, and geotechnical analysis for the design of bridge foundations. We're also providing traffic assessments and modelling of future traffic flows, preparing contract documentation, facilitating the procurement process and bid analysis, undertaking risk assessments, project programming, project management and managing of a number of sub-consultants.

What are the major challenges?

A major highways scheme in this location presents a number of challenges, and we need to ensure that the interests of English Heritage, Natural England and the Environment Agency are protected, particularly in the design and construction of the River Eden crossing which is within a Special Area of Conservation and Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site.

Following the discovery of remains of Hadrian's Wall, the south abutment to the bridge was redesigned after much consultation with the various agencies.

We also worked to minimise the impact on local businesses by including retaining wall structures instead of earthworks which required greater land take. The impact of construction works on those businesses has also been allowed for in contract documentation with the inclusion of timing constraints on construction works outside of peak periods.

What was YOUR role on the project?

I'm the Project Manager responsible for the delivery of technical inputs to the project. I manage the programme, facilitate the procurement process, including liaison with bidders, and consult with stakeholders including the Local Planning Authority, Environment Agency, English Heritage, Natural England, The Highways Agency, Network Rail and land owners. I am also responsible for the financial management of Capita Symonds fees.

The client appreciates my open style of management and Capita Symonds flexibility to accommodate changing circumstances and priorities.