A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

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WHBM
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by WHBM »

Chris5156 wrote: Mon Jan 03, 2022 12:12 It feels a bit like one of those episodes of Grand Designs where they decide to do without a project manager to save money and then go two years and half a million pounds over budget :laugh:
Unlike Grand Designs, are both these projects not being managed by the largest civils contractor in the country ... ?
Runwell
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

WHBM wrote: Sun Jan 02, 2022 14:00
Runwell wrote: Sun Jan 02, 2022 13:21Went through here again this morning for the first time since November, and was surprised how little (visible) progress had been made
I can't see either scheme being remotely finished by February.
Looks like you called that right. Weekend closures in to March by the looks of it on the Stanford to Tilbury section. Even the completion date signs have now either totally disappeared or been turned over, so they've given up on a public completion date? Heaven knows when this will now finish?
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

Took my first trip through the full works site this year, earlier this evening, although with street lighting not yet up and running, difficult to see much especially behind any varioguard.

Looks like, apart from a little landscaping or surfacing at both ends, the central barrier works are now complete. Much more of the final surface has also been put down. Westbound surface is down from just before Horndon Road Bridge to around the services, where it looks like they are now finishing off the construction of the road there. It's then intermittent from the A128 exit to the end of the works. Eastbound appears to have a larger area fully surfaced - from just west of the A128, virtually right up to the Horndon Bridge. Much of the fencing, tree planting and landscaping is now complete on the A128 to A1014 stretch. Signage still to be erected, but starting to look complete in sections.

Orsett Cock roundabout not hugely changed from the turn of the year, although looks like they have finally completed the curbing on the fire Station side of the Stanford Road, and the TM looks like it's switching to the other side of the road, where a short section of kerbing and reliagnment needs to take place.

Hopefully, by the time of my next visit in a month's time, the A1014 to A128 section will be complete and just have a lane coned off, whilst the section West of the A128 plays catchup?
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

Passed through the area late in the day today. Fair to say, whilst some sections look virtually complete, others are still some way behind, and I'm beginning to wonder if they will even finish before the end of March.
DSC09964 (4).JPG
DSC09963 (9).JPG
Looking eastbound just before Orsett. London-bound side looking virtually complete, with just a few remaining works taking place to the future lane 1 through the junction. Final works to the bridges also taking place. Eastbound, however, looks like it still has a fair way to go.

And here's London-bound facing from the same bridge:
DSC09962 (6).JPG
Runwell
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

Meanwhile, in virtual darkness from the Horndon Road bridge, the view looking London-bound. Can just about make out where the final road surface currently comes to a halt heading eastbound:
DSC09966 (6).JPG
And now, looking eastbound towards the A1014 junction. A bit too dark to see where the final surface starts London-bound, but it's somewhere in that bunch of vehicles. Final fencing now going up in the area as well:
DSC09967 (4).JPG
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by ryanjtm »

Thank you for keeping us updated!

You're right in noticing that a lot looks behind schedule, Kier have said it may now not be open for traffic until May 2022. Works for the balancing ponds has not even begun yet, they are waiting for better weather in March. This was revealed in a Thurrock Council meeting this week: https://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/docum ... Update.pdf
A13 Widening
Status
 Current Forecast Open for Traffic (OFT) date of May 22 is being challenged.
 Balancing Pond works delayed by Environment Agency approval – now to start in March 22.

Progress
 Good progress generally but some production issues due to weather and acquiring material e.g. tarmac
 Issues on some night closures –unknown utilities – impact progress

Milestones Due
 OFT – public end date OFT Feb 22 may slip to May 22
 Completion and handover to Thurrock Council
WHBM
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by WHBM »

ryanjtm wrote: Sun Feb 06, 2022 23:34
Works for the balancing ponds has not even begun yet, they are waiting for better weather in March.

 Good progress generally but some production issues due to weather
Those completely benign and rainless days we had all through January this year passed them by then ... ?
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Chris5156
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Chris5156 »

WHBM wrote: Sun Feb 06, 2022 23:51
ryanjtm wrote: Sun Feb 06, 2022 23:34
Works for the balancing ponds has not even begun yet, they are waiting for better weather in March.

 Good progress generally but some production issues due to weather
Those completely benign and rainless days we had all through January this year passed them by then ... ?
Maybe they were expecting ten hours of sunshine and temperatures of 25 celsius.
Runwell
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

I was wondering why there was still a lot of equipment beside the eastbound exit at Stanford, even with some works still to be carried out to the slip road? I'd assumed they had largely completed works on the balancing ponds a while ago? Clearly not. Given we've been largely fortunate so far this winter, it wouldn't surprise me if March has a sting in its tail. What will they do then?

Throw in the epic preparation works overnight etc through 2018, this project will be closing in on five years by the time it is finally complete. At this rate, Keir might be in Downing Street by the time Kier finally bring this debacle to an end.
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by WHBM »

Are they on Dayworks ?
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RichardA35
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by RichardA35 »

ryanjtm wrote: Sun Feb 06, 2022 23:34 Thank you for keeping us updated!

You're right in noticing that a lot looks behind schedule, Kier have said it may now not be open for traffic until May 2022. Works for the balancing ponds has not even begun yet, they are waiting for better weather in March. This was revealed in a Thurrock Council meeting this week: https://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/docum ... Update.pdf
A13 Widening
Status
 Current Forecast Open for Traffic (OFT) date of May 22 is being challenged.
 Balancing Pond works delayed by Environment Agency approval – now to start in March 22.

Progress
 Good progress generally but some production issues due to weather and acquiring material e.g. tarmac
 Issues on some night closures –unknown utilities – impact progress

Milestones Due
 OFT – public end date OFT Feb 22 may slip to May 22
 Completion and handover to Thurrock Council
Chris5156 wrote: Mon Feb 07, 2022 00:31
WHBM wrote: Sun Feb 06, 2022 23:51
ryanjtm wrote: Sun Feb 06, 2022 23:34
Works for the balancing ponds has not even begun yet, they are waiting for better weather in March.

 Good progress generally but some production issues due to weather
Those completely benign and rainless days we had all through January this year passed them by then ... ?
Maybe they were expecting ten hours of sunshine and temperatures of 25 celsius.
WHBM wrote: Mon Feb 07, 2022 07:40 Are they on Dayworks ?
It's good to see the contractor bashing mentality is alive and well.
However, as revealed by the first poster quoted - the world class Client, advised by the world class consulting engineer, designer and project manager, were unable to progress a design for a balancing pond over the several years they had available to do so and were similarly unable to gain approval from the regulator.
If the construction team doesn't have an approved design to build, what should they do?
(Correct answer is discuss the issue with the Project Manager via the Early Warning Procedure and collaboratively agree the course of action and any change to the Prices and programme)
As for dayworks, surely it is widely known by anyone with recent experience that there is no such thing under NEC contracts.
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by WHBM »

I regret a bit of industry hyperbolic shorthand has fallen flat ... possibly I should have said "Time-related Prelim margins".

Meanwhile, possibly someone somewhere along the line should give a meaningful date for completion, not just keep pushing it back and back. Are there not World Class users of Microsoft Project somewhere ?
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RichardA35
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by RichardA35 »

WHBM wrote: Mon Feb 07, 2022 12:40 I regret a bit of industry hyperbolic shorthand has fallen flat ... possibly I should have said "Time-related Prelim margins".

Meanwhile, possibly someone somewhere along the line should give a meaningful date for completion, not just keep pushing it back and back. Are there not World Class users of Microsoft Project somewhere ?
Thurrock Council are the project managers and Employer who have responsibility for the design and construction and I feel sure they will have a software licence somewhere.
The real pros are using P6 and know exactly when it will finish. A look on roadworks.org will identify the current forecast closures.
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

Even looking on there, it still looks rather ambiguous. The general notices on the website state work is due to be complete by 28th February (was 31st December until late last year). However, there are some overnight closures listed on that stretch in early April, plus the main roadworks page on the council website lists weekend closures until at least March 21st.
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RichardA35
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by RichardA35 »

Runwell wrote: Mon Feb 07, 2022 23:35 Even looking on there, it still looks rather ambiguous. The general notices on the website state work is due to be complete by 28th February (was 31st December until late last year). However, there are some overnight closures listed on that stretch in early April, plus the main roadworks page on the council website lists weekend closures until at least March 21st.
What you can see is the booked road closures - it will need closures to remove final cones, apply final white lines etc before opening without restriction. Everything else runs the risk of being out of date just after being published.
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

Well, from a tweet I've seen today, I hope it means that we won't be waiting until May for this project to finally be open to traffic, even if it's not complete.

https://twitter.com/themasterles/status ... -C1qg&s=19.

Good to see genuine progress on some of the areas I went to just over a fortnight ago.

Apparently over the past week, they have been putting the final surface on the Orsett roundabout and slip roads, and most of this including the final lining and markings is now complete. As the photos show, it looks like even the signage is now going in. Bit of an end of an era feel about that ADS on the Chadwell St Mary approach to the roundabout, sad as that sign now appears. Presume the road was still the A128 down to Tilbury when that went in, and perhaps the Dock Approach Road had yet to open, given the small yellow signage at the bottom?

Hoping to pass through the area next Thursday, before the start of three weekend closures on the bounce for the A13 (the last?).
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

Not had the chance to use the A13 of late, but went over the Orsett roundabout on Wednesday, where the final surfacing is complete with signage mostly in place. The traffic lights are mostly up now as well, so it looks close to completion.

Not sure about the A13 itself, but there was a discussion about this on BBC Essex after 8am this morning. Looks like the work will be continuing until at least April, possibly even May. Project has increased from £80 to near £120m. Thurrock Council in for some stick on the radio this morning. Some footage on the station's tweets taken from Horndon Road Bridge today. https://twitter.com/BBCEssex/status/150 ... DBE-g&s=19
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by RichardA35 »

Runwell wrote: Fri Mar 11, 2022 12:34...Looks like the work will be continuing until at least April.....
The last publically announced weekend closure on roadworks.org is noted as 9 - 11 April - I believe it is planned that there should be no more need for closures after that date :-)
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

Let us hope that is the case. The Council A13 page now lists the closure for that weekend between the A128 and A1014. No others mentioned after this weekend's forthcoming closure between the same junctions, so hopefully a good sign, although the 40mph is still down to last up to the end of April.

Went through here this lunchtime, following the Orsett to Tilbury weekend closure just gone, and it looks like work is effectively complete westbound after Orsett, as the lane closure that continued after the Orsett junction has been lifted, and the SPEC which has been there since the start has now gone, although the 40mph limit still remains. Surfacing now complete eastbound approaching Orsett, although still some embankment and barrier works to complete, plus work has yet to start on the signage, with the dilapidated old ADS at 2/3m still yet to be taken out of the ground.

Through the Orsett junction, some remaining works taking place to the abutments, whilst landscaping works are now taking place either side.
All ADS signage now up for the roundabout on all approaches and on the splitters, with all old ADS signs now removed. Surprised to see Orsett Hospital still listed as a destination, as per the previous signage, as it lost its A&E status a few years after the previous signage went in, and its mere future has been on the line on and off in the years since. Surprised they didn't opt to stick Grays on the ADSs with the minor injuries hospital symbol.

With most of the final surfacing now complete apart from a half mile section both ways between around the Horndon Road Bridge and Stanford and the tail of the eastbound entry at Orsett, most of the remaining work seems to be at the converges of all the roads, with the tie-in kerbing and surfacing work largely still to do, plus the usual fencing, landscaping and signage works, plus works still at the balancing ponds.

Hopefully, the end is four weeks or so away, but I won't hold my breath.
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Re: A13 Stanford-le-Hope Bypass Widening

Post by Runwell »

Runwell wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 18:25
Hopefully, the end is four weeks or so away, but I won't hold my breath.
I was right not to. Went through this afternoon, after another weekend closure, and visible progress seems to have been very small since a month ago. They've now got the tiger tail sorted westbound from the A1014 junction, and it seems all surfacing up until the A128 exit, but here there is still a section where the final layer has to be added. Also still some work both ways to complete barriers including slip roads, as well as lighting and fencing works. Landscaping works still look quite a way off in places as well, where it looks like the only access is from the A13? Also still a lot of work at the balancing ponds to do. Eastbound signage from the A1089 also yet to be installed, and in several places up to the A1014. They do appear to have finished all works through the Orsett junction, however, as well as on the roundabout, with some of the 30mph signage now cleared, though they haven't yet removed the cameras, whilst the roundabout remains one lane whilst they finish the A13 works and presumably sort out commissioning the lights. Didn't travel eastbound.

Can't see this project now being completed until the start of May at least.
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