PROJECT OUTLINE

The Works is the new vision of the future for Ebbw Vale and is a £350 million regeneration project, supported by the Welsh Government. It aims to redevelop the old steelworks site as a major college campus, together with additional facilities that will bring long term benefits to the area. To accommodate the significantly increased traffic flows generated by the new development, an improved northern gateway was required, to be constructed off the existing public highway.

PROJECT DELIVERY

Walters had previously carried out numerous contracts at the old Ebbw Vale Steelworks site. Following an exhaustive pre-qualification process (by Blaenau Gwent CBC), they were appointed as a Framework Contractor to bid for (and undertake) all future infrastructure projects at the Works.

The Northern Gateway contract was the first project to be secured under the Framework and was to be built on the location of the old entrance to the former steelworks. It forms the new entrance to the development from the north, consisting of a new online roundabout and approximately 250m of online carriageway improvement to the approaches.

The online location presented the associated difficulties of dealing with existing services and drains whilst also accommodating live traffic on this significant north south route, heavily used by traffic to by-pass the town centre. Detailed investigation of all information relating to previous services was carried out in order to minimise the possibility of encountering uncharted services. Detailed traffic management plans were produced to minimise disruption to the public and to ensure safe methods of construction were implemented.

Despite a greatly increased work scope the project was finished on time, meeting the critical milestone of completion prior to college enrolment and the commencement of the new term.