Stonehenge - The bored tunnel option

[Berk]

That was a useful update, thankyou. Nice to see things are staying on track, not left on the back burner.

[Glom]

My concern is that, on an election footing, road building isn't "sexy" enough for Johnson. I think it will be an exercise in headline grabbing and we'll be disappointed,

There's quite a few Tory/Lib Dem marginal seats in the South West, I would imagine a potential election would make the scheme more likely to go ahead, the approach seems to be to throw money at any problem

Only thing about that though is that the Lib Dems aren't known as keen road builders.

Still, glad to know it is still rumbling on.

[tompatt]

New images released by HE showing what the tunnel could like are viewable via this link.

https://highwaysengland.co.uk/a303-stonehenge-about/

Meanwhile it was missed off the so called Government review, really a election broadcast and the view of HE remains that if the project is to be completed as planned by 2026, the funding needs to be confirmed by the end of the year.

I can't see it happening I'm afraid, too contentious with too little tangible reward.

[Berk]

I can't see it happening I'm afraid, too contentious with too little tangible reward.

It really is only about funding. Before it was because funds had to come from central government.

In the end, I would rather the Government caved and accepted PFI for this one. It really has to be built.

[tompatt]

Geotechnical Surveying work to start. Due to complete early next year

https://www.spirefm.co.uk/news/local-ne ... -amesbury/

[Glom]

Geotechnical Surveying work to start. Due to complete early next year

https://www.spirefm.co.uk/news/local-ne ... -amesbury/

Something is happening? That's better than nothing happening.

[jackal]

The examination of the scheme has now closed. PINS have three months to make their recommendation, but it's a rubber stamping exercise nowadays.

The funding issue is pretty academic imo. In truth the govt were always paying for it so the change there is a superficial one.

[jackal]

No UK tier 1 contractors have bid for the contract. Highways England are standing firm on their fixed price approach, and have three bids from continental joint ventures.

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest ... 7-12-2019/

[RichardA35]

No UK tier 1 contractors have bid for the contract. Highways England are standing firm on their fixed price approach, and have three bids from continental joint ventures.

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest ... 7-12-2019/

Funnily enough for those with a long memory, this approach is almost exactly the same one that led to cost increases in the ECI period and the project being dubbed uneconomic and withdrawn the last time. It was similarly competitively priced with risk transfer before the design was carried out.

[darkcape]

And they're planning on using the same model for LTC...

HS2 has already backtracked on risk transfer, all the big boys got stung in Scotland recently with FRB and AWPR, over two years ago some of the top players were making noises about shunning the HE in favour of HS2....it may be good for the HE getting new contractors in but if they're not experienced in UK highways there's a risk it could backfire

[RichardA35]

And they're planning on using the same model for LTC...

HS2 has already backtracked on risk transfer, all the big boys got stung in Scotland recently with FRB and AWPR, over two years ago some of the top players were making noises about shunning the HE in favour of HS2....it may be good for the HE getting new contractors in but if they're not experienced in UK highways there's a risk it could backfire

Absolutely, with Hinkley C ongoing, HS2, Heathrow and Sizewell C all in the near future plus a steady RDP flow, not many Tier 1's need to chase the HE complex schemes, so HE will get the team they deserve with the conditions they have chosen.

[Bryn666]

And they're planning on using the same model for LTC...

HS2 has already backtracked on risk transfer, all the big boys got stung in Scotland recently with FRB and AWPR, over two years ago some of the top players were making noises about shunning the HE in favour of HS2....it may be good for the HE getting new contractors in but if they're not experienced in UK highways there's a risk it could backfire

Absolutely, with Hinkley C ongoing, HS2, Heathrow and Sizewell C all in the near future plus a steady RDP flow, not many Tier 1's need to chase the HE complex schemes, so HE will get the team they deserve with the conditions they have chosen.

At least it ensures another 15 years of me complaining about shoddy design quality on the 'ancillary' items buried in Series 1200, not like this stuff matters is it given that it's only what everyone using the road relies on...

[RichardA35]

And they're planning on using the same model for LTC...

HS2 has already backtracked on risk transfer, all the big boys got stung in Scotland recently with FRB and AWPR, over two years ago some of the top players were making noises about shunning the HE in favour of HS2....it may be good for the HE getting new contractors in but if they're not experienced in UK highways there's a risk it could backfire

Absolutely, with Hinkley C ongoing, HS2, Heathrow and Sizewell C all in the near future plus a steady RDP flow, not many Tier 1's need to chase the HE complex schemes, so HE will get the team they deserve with the conditions they have chosen.

At least it ensures another 15 years of me complaining about shoddy design quality on the 'ancillary' items buried in Series 1200, not like this stuff matters is it given that it's only what everyone using the road relies on...

HE also seem unaware of the cost and inefficiency of Eurocode foundations compared to the old BS and meanwhile the public get lost due to poor wayfinding design and speed inappropriate roundabout geometry.

[Bryn666]

Absolutely, with Hinkley C ongoing, HS2, Heathrow and Sizewell C all in the near future plus a steady RDP flow, not many Tier 1's need to chase the HE complex schemes, so HE will get the team they deserve with the conditions they have chosen.

At least it ensures another 15 years of me complaining about shoddy design quality on the 'ancillary' items buried in Series 1200, not like this stuff matters is it given that it's only what everyone using the road relies on...

HE also seem unaware of the cost and inefficiency of Eurocode foundations compared to the old BS and meanwhile the public get lost due to poor wayfinding design and speed inappropriate roundabout geometry.

That explains the nuclear bunker designs we see everywhere then. I'd love to see how much money this wastes on smart motorway schemes where you'd have thought lightweight lattix type gantries (protected by barriers as they're not passively safe once heavy signal equipment is installed) as used in Norway would provide much better savings and also reduce the visual clutter...

[SteveA30]

This sounds like a similar scenario to the GW electrification, where the gantries have been of a far more solid design than earlier ones on schemes like the ECML. Why the overdesign, H&S paranoia?

[jackal]

...it may be good for the HE getting new contractors in but if they're not experienced in UK highways there's a risk it could backfire

The Tier 1's have been delivering obscenely expensive road schemes by international standards. I for one welcome our new European overlords.

[thatapanydude]

This sounds like a similar scenario to the GW electrification, where the gantries have been of a far more solid design than earlier ones on schemes like the ECML. Why the overdesign, H&S paranoia?

It is to stop the trains and weather pulling the wires down more often! On the ECML this is a common enough occurrence which needs to be mitigated - hence the same installation on the MML electrification.

[fras]

Getting back to the theme of this thread............

When will this project ever be "oven ready", to use a phrase !! A decades long saga still not ended; yet the countries of Europe just seem to get on and build things without all the chest beating and knashing of teeth !

[Berk]

It should be hitting the Minister’s in-tray by the new year. They’ll have had the report for 3 months by then.

Final decision must be made by the end of March/beginning of April.

[Norfolktolancashire]

It should be hitting the Minister’s in-tray by the new year. They’ll have had the report for 3 months by then.

Final decision must be made by the end of March/beginning of April.

I think it will be given the final go ahead. There is no other option really apart from leaving the route as it is and that will just not help the wider area.

There will, however, be massive protests, if not just from Extinction Rebellion.