MERTHYR TYDFIL COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN

Main Tel: 01685 725000 www.merthyr.gov.uk

CABINET REPORT

Date Written 31 st January 2012 Report Author Carwyn Morrison / Mark Robinson Service Area Committee Division Portfolio Committee Date 15 th February 2012

To: Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen MERTHYR TYDFIL CONNECT 2 TREVITHICK BRIDGE SUBSTRUCTURE PENTREBACH, MERTHYR TYDFIL

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT:

To inform Councillors of problems encountered with the above scheme and the financial implications resulting.

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1 Tenders were invited from seven contractors for the above scheme, which is one of only 9 Connect 2 schemes in Wales. Tenders were invited from selected contractors who had expressed an interest through the Buy 4 Wales website.

1.2 Six tenders were returned, by the due time and date of 1600 on Thursday 1 st September 2011. One tenderer indicated by letter that they were unable to submit a valid tender due to pressure of existing workload and returned the blank documents.

1.3 Tenders were opened at 1400 on 2 nd September 2011 and the values were as follows:-

1 £ 189,512.35 2 £ 184,190.85 3 £ 216,538.85 4 £ 145,563.51 5 £ 149,047.60 6 £ 157,909.40

1.4 Arithmetical checking was carried out on all six tenders and the three lowest tenders were then given a detailed analysis.

1.5 One arithmetical error was corrected.

The corrected figures were therefore: -

1 £ 217,232.34 2 £ 184,190.85 3 £ 216,538.85 4 £ 145,563.51 5 £ 149,047.60 6 £ 157,909.40

1.6 Approval to enter into contract with Tenderer number 4 being Flowline Civil Engineering was given by the Director of Customer Services on 5th September 2011

1.7 The contract was therefore awarded to Flowline Civil Engineering in accordance with delegated powers 6th September 2011.

2.0 CONSTRUCTION STAGE REPORT

2.1 Work commenced on this contract on 14 th September 2011.

2.2 Excavation commenced on the west side of the A4060 (T) adjacent to the Co-op / Peacocks Store.

2.3 Prior to work commencing extensive site investigation and remediation by drilling and grouting had been carried out by a specialist geotechnical contractor.

2.4 Excavation to formation level for the main support base to the vertical mast which will form the main suspension structure for the bridge deck had proceeded without incident.

2.5 Upon compacting the formation with heavy rolling equipment however large voids began opening up under the formation on the 22 nd September.

2.6 Investigation works were carried out by our contractor and the presence of untreated remains of former furnaces and culverts associated with the Plymouth Ironworks and later Brickworks were discovered.

2.7 The consultants for the detailed design of the structure were notified and together with the Geotechnical Organisation employed by Welsh Government Highways a solution was agreed for treatment of the remains.

2.8 The contractor carried out the remedial works as soon as practicable but there was an inevitable delay and financial consequence to the overall works programme together with the actual costs of the remedial works themselves.

2.9 Further problems occurred on the east side of the A4060(T) with buried cables having to be diverted by hand and the discovery of an uncharted manhole on the 7 th October 2011 directly under the position of pier 4 which is the main support pier for the bridge span on the east side.

2.10 The consultants for the detailed design of the sub structure were again notified and once again together with the Geotechnical Organisation employed by Welsh Government Highways a solution was agreed for treatment of the problems.

2.11 Additionally the Council’s consultants Capita in carrying out the detailed design in accordance with the Latest Euro codes (As now required by Welsh Government Highways for all structures affecting the Trunk Road Network) found that the concrete base sizes for the support piers had significantly increased in size from those required when working to the former British Standards.

2.12 This has led to an increase in the quantities of formwork, reinforcing steel and concrete which have had to be used to construct the works.

2.13 On the 12 th October we were alerted by SWTRA that the Welsh Government Highways had raised concerns about the headroom over the verge on the East side of the A4060. Although the headroom was to design specifications they perceived the possibility of an errant HGV coming down the A4060 (T) being able to ride up over the embankment and therefore impact with the bridge superstructure. Therefore proposals have been forwarded to construct a mass concrete wall with brickwork cladding to provide a barrier protecting the bridge structure. This will result in a further increase to costs.

3.0 EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT

3.1 It has been identified that an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) is not required for the purpose of this report. Please contact the author for details of this decision.

4.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATION(S)

4.1 Capital funding is available for the scheme from National Lottery Connect 2 and HOVP ERDF Funds managed by Sustrans. This funding was sufficient to carry out this contract as envisaged together with all the other works associated including the fabrication and erection of the structure itself.

4.2 Additional funding of £180,000 to cover the additional costs associated with the contract has now been offered by Welsh Government as part of the Walking & Cycling Investment 2011/2012 under section 6 of the Transport (Wales) Act 2006. Further top up funding may be obtained as offered by Sustrans should the need arise.

4.3 The current prediction of final expenditure on this contract is £263,000 and Sustrans have been informed of this.

5.0 Recommendation(s) that

5.1 Authorisation be given to extending the value of the Merthyr Tydfil Connect2 Trevithick Bridge Substructure Contract to £263,000.

GARY THOMAS DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICES

BACKGROUND PAPERS Title of Document(s) Document(s) Date Document Location Tender Documents for August 2011 Engineering Files the Merthyr Tydfil H5.1/90 Connect2 Trevithick Bridge Sub Structure scheme.

Offer letter from WG for 20 th January 2012 additional funding from Walking and Cycling Investment 2011/2012 under section 6 of the Transport (Wales) Act 2006

Consultation has been undertaken with Executive Board in respect of each proposal(s) and recommendation(s) set out in this report.