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Q&A: Héctor GarridoHow to combat abuseEnfield contract winCutting energy billsCommunity action
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Winter2014
magazineNews from Eurovia UK
Also in this issue
Innovation flies highAward winners, p5
Getting geotechnical, p7
Arch restorers, p20
g
insight24/1_Layout 1 03/12/2014 20:34 Page 2
The new works and
service contract, worth
around £10 million a year, is
for an initial seven years
with possible extensions
through to 2028.
Major investment is being
made in the fleet, including
new vehicles for the
additional street lighting
and electrical operations
that now form part of the
contract. A pole truck and
two mobile elevated
working platforms (MEWPs)
have already been
deployed.
The new fleet of 7.5t
lorries now being procured will feature an innovative ‘safe access
and egress and fall arrestor’ system, which will ultimately be
extended across the Ringway and Eurovia businesses.
New-style gritters from Econ and Epoke are also being trialled.
“We have three new pre-wet, dedicated gritters with the latest
technological advances to trial this winter with a view to
purchasing a new fleet ready for the 2015-16 season,” says
Divisional Manager Ian Thorpe.
As part of the new contractual arrangements, Ringway’s
successful street cleansing operations have been transferred to a
new contractor with the loss of 19 staff and operatives.
2
We arefacing 2015 in strongershape
“ “
insh
ort
insight commentGearing up for seconddecade in BracknellOctober saw the start of a new NEC3Highways Works Contract in BracknellForest following the conclusion ofRingway’s successful 10-year contract.
I hope you enjoy reading this edition of Insight and
finding out about all the businesses that make up
Eurovia in the United Kingdom.
I was fortunate to attend and present at the Eurovia
UK Innovation Awards in October, and I think it’s great
that we had nearly 180 super entries. You can read
more about the winners on page five, and please take
time to view more entry details via the Inspire button on
NEVA UK.
We are facing 2015 in a stronger shape than 12
months ago. We are seeing various business
improvement strategies starting to pay dividends and
our capital investments are aiding our efficiency and
effectiveness. Of most importance is the teamwork and
support from our colleagues that is improving our
performance step by step.
In this edition you will read about new forms of
training focusing on underground services, manual
handling and dealing with conflict – we are trying new
ways to make our working environment safer.
I wish you and your family an excellent Christmas and
above all a healthy 2015 when it comes – thank you to
all our people up and down the country for your help
and support in making our company stronger –
together we are stronger.
Scott Wardrop
Chief Executive, Eurovia UK
Dear colleagues,
Regional Director Nick Goddard(left) with Bracknell Forest
Councillor Chris Turrell
2_3_Layout 1 03/12/2014 20:15 Page 1
The patented Eurosigns product can record vehicles that fail to
stop at manually controlled sites on a wide-angle, HD camera.
Footage is of sufficient quality, even in low light, to prosecute
offenders.
Flashing LED lights illuminate the ‘Stop’ text, giving earlier
indication to drivers in adverse weather.
The electronics and battery are self-contained within the head of
the improved Stop-Go Camera Safety Sign. It can be operated by
an on/off switch or automatically so it turns off when not in use.
Recharging takes less than two hours for 16 hours’ normal use.
“The in-use power-managed battery life and the clarity of the
images make this a unique product,” says Dean Welburn, Regional
Director for Eurovia’s Specialist Businesses. “It is already in use
across Ringway Jacobs and some Eurovia businesses, and has
earned one of our external customers working in London a Health
and Safety Innovation award from Sir Robert McAlpine.”
• How to combat roadworks rage, page 8
The group meets twice-yearly: after the winter season, to share
lessons learnt, and before the oncoming winter to discuss
preparations and issues of concern. BEAR Scotland’s HQ hosted the
forum which included a presentation by Meteor Group on advances
in weather prediction, including climatic domains and route-based
forecasting
“It’s great having all the practitioners in the same room, sharing
views and best practice,” says Bob Binder, Ringway Project
Manager and Salt Tzar. Topics discussed this time included the
availability of resources, training, salt supply and quality, and
technology trends, such as the shift to brine-only spray treatments
on the continent, which are being trialled this winter on part of the
Scottish network.
The Forum is chaired by Ringway Regional Director Nick
Goddard. Ringway Managing Director Bill Taylor and his
counterpart at BEAR, Brian Gordon, also attended the October
meeting.
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insight newsin
shor
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FLOWER POWER: Nine Eurovia volunteers plantedbulbs in beautiful Clifton Park for RotherhamHospice in October. Each of the 6,000 Crocus,Bluebell and Ramson bulbs had been sponsoredlocally. The hospice is the chosen charity forEurovia Contracting North. Its volunteers werejoined by Dave Campbell, Health, Safety &Environment Director, and Clare Habbin, HSECoordinator. In June, Clare and Judith Hampsonraised over £2,000 for the hospice when theycompleted the 10-mile Midnight Memory Walk.
AIR LIFT: Recycling oldcomputer equipment has raiseda £600 donation for theChildren’s Air Ambulance. Thekit was collected fromHorsham’s ICT department. Theair ambulance service, whichbegan operations in May 2013,transfers seriously ill childrenand infants, along with theirclinicians, between hospitals.
Hi-tech Stop/Go polesmake roadworks safer It's the season to be wary...
forum debates winter plansDigital video and LED technology are beingharnessed in a hi-tech version of theStop/Go signage pole to make highwayoperatives safer at roadworks.
!
PHO
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Winter service experts from the divisionsand joint-venture companies gathered in Perth for the Ringway Winter Forum in October.
2_3_Layout 1 03/12/2014 20:15 Page 2
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insight news
CHRIS LONGSTER Ganger, Ringway NorthYorkshire, Area 1 (Richmond)
“There
is a saying in
Area 1 which goes
along the lines of:
‘You never have to go
back to a Chris Longster
job.’ He is renowned for his
quality and eye for detail as
well as ensuring his sites
are near-on perfect where
health and safety is
concerned.”
Darren Pavan, Area
Agent
SERVICE: In the job since January 2001,Chris transferred to Ringway in 2012from Balfour Beatty. Once a farmer, hehas also worked as a plumber.
THE JOB: “I enjoy winter maintenancework and, as the Area Rep, being
involved in our countywide health& safety meetings. There have
been some memorable times,
like working through the Foot andMouth outbreak in 2001 and 12 weeksof snow in 2010.
BY THE WAY: Chris is a keen motor rallyfan. A member of the Ripon MotorClub, he’s part of a ‘chase car’ team,changing tyres and fine-tuning the racecar at service points. Last season Chrisenjoyed a stint as navigator.
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An intensive resurfacing programme is in fullswing in Milton Keynes with more than 50roundabouts and road sections due to becompleted before Christmas.
Resurfacing in full swing onMilton Keynes roundabouts
Eight roundabouts on the former New Town’s grid road system wererevamped during a four-week period of the summer holiday season.
To minimise disruption at these critical sites further, Milton Keynes Councilgave road users a week’s notice of the works and a timetable, followed by dailyupdates via its website and highways-dedicated Twitter account. On the groundRingway set up information boards, clear diversion routes and completedextensive letter drops.
Ringway began managing and maintaining the network on 27 April under aseven-year contract, extendable by up to three years. “Working with all oursupply chain and building a clear partnership with our client from day one hasenabled us to deliver schemes as required from the first week of the contract,”says John Wolstencroft, Schemes Manager
Ringway and its partners will oversee £50 million of investment in highways,as well as managing reactive maintenance from a new Operations Hub.
“We’ve started as we mean to go on, and thanks to the hard work of ourRingway team and the assistance of our Eurovia colleagues, we are onschedule,” says John Upcott, Divisional Director.
“We’ve embraced Ringway’s safety culture with zero lost-time incidents in thefirst six months,” John adds. Near-miss reporting was established from day oneand 96% of operatives underwent core skills training – in manual handling, firstaid, banksman, safe digging, and abrasive wheel cutting – within five months,with the rest planned soon after.
A Eurovia UK roadshow hascompleted its national tour,sharing the key messages fromthe company’s Spring Conference.
Senior managers have been out front at theevents to get across the priorities of the EuroviaUK Business Plan, explaining how the business isperforming, and setting out the vision for eachpart of the business.
The Conference Roadshows also gave everyonepresent the opportunity to ask questions of themanagement team. Presentations and videosshown at the events were designed to make theevents as engaging as possible.
In the last employee survey, people called forgreater interaction by senior management withthe divisions and better communication generally.The Conference Roadshows were intended to giveemployees the opportunity to hear and questionmembers of the senior management team.
Reflecting the Business Plan, key themes for theRoadshow included:• Preventing incidents• Focusing on cost and value• Managing effectively• Sharing best practice
Each Roadshow event was tailored to aseparate part of the business. Scott Wardrop,Eurovia UK Chief Executive, supported SimonWillis, MD of Eurovia Infrastructure, and hisDirectors; Bill Taylor, MD of Ringway TermServices, and his team; and also hosted the eventsfor JLUK and Eurovia Management.
Tour raiseskey themes
4/5_Layout 1 03/12/2014 23:18 Page 1
5
insight awards
The biennial competitionattracted 189 entries and, atthe awards ceremony onThursday 6 November, 14
winners were announced.The winning teams picked up cheques and certificates along with
their awards in nine categories plus four special prizes and anoverall Grand Prize.
Their entries covered a wide range of innovations: • from a digital advertising vehicle showing training films on site toa specially adapted truck for carrying the hot bitumen pot used forjoint sealing;• from involving the public as ‘lay assessors’ of work sites to a‘Lean the Load’ initiative relieving repair gangs of unnecessary kitso as to reduce fuel consumption and emissions;• and from new training courses to creative uses of technology.
Four parts of the business – Ringway Jacobs, RingwayWorcestershire, Eurovia Surfacing and Island Roads – each collecteda brace of awards. But the overall winner of the Grand Prize wasEurovia Specialist Treatments for its tablet tool for design and riskassessment.
The tool’s development has done away with the need for paperdesigns and delays in creating electronic records, while alsoallowing site hazards to be assessed in detail at the time of design.Significant savings are being made as a result, and the divisionplans to develop the tool further.
“2014 was a bumper year for innovation,” says, Mike Burnett,who chaired the awards. “The Innovation Awards celebrate theinitiative of our people and help us identify and spread goodpractice across the business.”* Full details of all the winners can befound on the intranet by clicking on the‘Inspire’ button on the front page of NEVA.
CATEGORYWINNERSMaterials, Processes& Techniques: TabletDesign and Site Specific RiskAssessment Tool Eurovia Specialist Treatments
Marketing &Communication: On-siteMobile Display Vehicle Ringway Worcestershire
Equipment & Tools: AerialInspections Ringway Jacobs
Management: Formula RoadTraining Course for PavingTechnicians Eurovia Surfacing
Health & Safety: ConflictResolution training Eurovia UK
Environment &Sustainability: ‘Lean the Load’ Ringway Worcestershire
Working with theCommunity: Rights of WayVolunteering and Donate agate scheme Ringway Jacobs (Transport forBuckinghamshire)
Working Together: StanwellRoad West CarriagewayReconstruction Hounslow Highways
Dissemination Award: TfBAsset Management StrategyDevelopment JLUK
SPECIAL PRIZESTogether: AGORA – Providinga showcase and meeting placefor our business Eurovia UK
Technology: BIM - 3DVisualisation in ConstructionIsland Roads
Fleet: Design of a purpose-builtspecialist vehicle Eurovia Surfacing
Community: Lay AssessorsScheme Island Roads
GRAND PRIZETablet Design and SiteSpecific Risk AssessmentTool – Eurovia SpecialistTreatments
Celebrating the innovatorsCreative thinking isflourishing across theEurovia family, whichcelebrated the peoplebehind the best ideas at the2014 Innovation Awards.
Tablet takes it: EST's GrandPrize winner (left); and
(below) at the movies inWorcestershire
4/5_Layout 1 03/12/2014 23:18 Page 2
DOES INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCEHELP IN YOUR JOB?“Every time when working for a newbranch you see how differently people reactto the same kind of issues. A simplifiedexample might be an equipmentbreakdown: the British fitter will followestablished procedures even when the issuecan very quickly be solved; his Frenchcounterpart will report it and ask approvalof everyone involved before starting; whilethe Spaniard will try to get it solved as soonas possible, sometimes taking a high riskthat can end in a major failure.
“Travelling, meeting new people andexperiencing new cultures is one of myhobbies, and I try to apply thatunderstanding to my job. Working in a fewcountries for Eurovia, and directly with ourheadquarters in Paris, has helped medevelop a more global view.”
WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?“At the moment the most important issuesare: being compliant regarding OperatorLicences in every division and Joint Ventureby the end of the year; and reviewing andupdating our processes for the group,covering asset procurement, maintenance,productivity and safe use training.”
ANYTHING ELSE?“Another priority is to build a Plant & Fleet
team across the UK who can help solveissues, working with Horsham support. Allof us involved with plant and fleet dosimilar work and face the same kind ofissues. But often people try to solveproblems on their own, and only when theyreach a dead end do they consult others.From my point of view, sharing informationis vital. On the other hand P&F people needto have support from the operational teamin their own divisions covering assetprocurement, maintenance, productivityand safe use training.”
HOW WOULD THIS WORK?“In Spanish we say: ‘Sometimes it’s moreimportant, not to know the answer, but tohave the telephone number of the personwho knows.’ By having a team of expertswe can share experience in resolvingcommon problems. For instance, StevePattenden is the person to ask aboutgritters; for O-licensing, Keith Atkins is aclear expert; and Neil Withers is experiencedin CAPEX investment decisions and queries.Many problems could be solved reallyquickly if we contacted the right person.”
ARE YOU PLANNING CHANGES?“For the moment I just want to understandhow people are working, analyse, andsuggest any improvements that may benecessary.”
insight profile
6
Héctor Garridostepped up to becomeEurovia UK & IndiaPlant & Fleet Managerin the summer. Thewell-travelled engineershares his views on hisnew role, culture andproblem-solving.
We need topic experts to share answers
Born in Spain, Héctor graduatedwith a double MechanicalEngineering degree through a jointfive-year programme run byuniversities in Valladolid and Paris.
Joining Eurovia in 2007, he startedwork in Madrid, where hecompleted an MBA, and managedthe relocation of two productionplants.
During 2009 Héctor trained inFrench quarries, workshops andplants, before moving back to Spainas a plant and fleet manager atdivisional and then, country level.
In January 2013 he arrived in the UKas Divisional Plant & Fleet Managerfor Eurovia Specialist Treatments(UK) & NAPC India.
June 2014: Héctor became EuroviaUK & India’s Plant & Fleet Manager.
6-7_Layout 1 03/12/2014 20:17 Page 1
7
Cracking and undulating, theinadequately constructed route toYarmouth on the Isle of Wight hadbeen deformed by historic slopefailure, according to Island Roads’Geotechnical Engineer, MadelineClewett. Generally that movement wasimperceptibly slow, but even wherethere was no visible evidence of slips,leaning telegraph poles and semi-detached kerbstones pointed to theunderlying problems.
The 3km road is one of a series oflinks undermined by unstable geologythat are being tackled by Island Roadsunder its PFI partnership with the Isleof Wight Council.
The linchpin of its geotechnicalsolution for Bouldnor Road was aheavy sheet pile wall along a 1kmsection. Up to 16m deep, the sheetpiles were driven last winter. Welded tothe top, a 600m-long capping beamgives the retaining wall stiffness,explains Kieron Blamey, GeotechnicalProject Manager.
Allowances had to be made also forthe special status of the location. Notonly part of an Area of OutstandingNatural Beauty, this stretch of coastand its inland wetland habitat areprotected under several conservationregulations. “This meant adapting thedesign to allow saline groundwaterfrom the sea to penetrate under the
road,” says Kieron. Alternating pairs ofshorter piles with groups of four longerpiles are designed to allow water tocome through the wall.
Meanwhile on concrete sections, areinforced mesh geo-grid was glued tothe top of the cracked surfaced beforeresurfacing, leaving some 4,000t ofconcrete in situ.
Along another 100m section byTown Green, 300 soil nails havestabilised its shallow slope.
Site Manager Will Orr, one of IslandRoads’ graduate engineers, oversawthe programme, which had toaccommodate utility works, including anew high-voltage cable. Streetlightsand signs were upgraded and kerbs,footways, drains and gulleys replacedas part of the scheme.
Despite one of the island’s wettestwinters, Bouldnor Road –reconstructed using Foambase toppedby U-LM thin surfacing – reopened ontime in April. “Many local residentscame out on the day as they’re veryappreciative of the finished job, notleast because they’ve found the newsurface is also a lot quieter,” Kieronadds.
This summer’s visitors had asmoother ride. And ground monitoringequipment has been installed to detectany future movement underneathBouldnor Road.
Bouldnor Road going nowhereafter geotechnical solution
insight project
Unbeknown to passing tourists taking in the viewsover the Solent, the road beneath them was on itsown slow journey.
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Hospital workers, school teachers, police officers … they all run the
risk of physical assault from the people they serve. So maybe it
shouldn’t be any more shocking that road workers can be targets too.
Verbal and physical aggression is increasingly being directed at the
front-line staff involved in traffic management and road works.
That sad reality was starkly illustrated by two attacks earlier this
year: a Hounslow Highways traffic management operative was
assaulted and kicked on the ground by a motorist; and a supply chain
partner’s gateman had his leg broken when a driver ignored the
warning not to enter a working site on the A411 in Watford.
The highway was already a high-risk working environment, as the
toll of death and injury caused by oncoming vehicles striking workers
has risen over the last decade. So how can this additional threat be
curbed?
Bearing in mind the potential for conflict when planning works is
important; as are clear signing with courtesy notices to encourage
responsible driver behaviour; and, when all else fails, supporting police
prosecutions.
But the rising number of incidents, culminating in those two
RIDDOR reportable injuries, showed that “Something more had to be
done about this violence against our workforce,” says Dave Campbell,
Eurovia UK Health, Safety and Environment Director.
Those additional methods involve technology and training.
Difficulties in prosecution are a major problem for the police,
particularly where there are no witnesses, says Brett Coupland,
Operations Manager in the Eurovia Surfacing division.
Brett has first-hand experience of irate drivers who ignore
instructions. He was run over when working for South West
Highways. “Knocked unconscious, I was thrown into the path of
oncoming traffic, and it was the quick thinking of my colleague who
moved the roller to block the traffic, which stopped it being far
worse,” he recalls.
Eurovia Surfacing has trialled miniature CCTV cameras that clip
onto hard hats or apparel. The use of CCTV is advertised on boards,
and the film footage, which is tamper-proof, can be used as evidence
in a court of law.
At least half the reported near misses within the division relate to
third-party abuse and threatening behaviour, says Business Manager
Paul Kidd. This can be so serious that police protection is required.
“As more works are carried out at night, some residents get
8
insight news
Our people on the front line face a new and growing danger. Jo Barnett,Eurovia UK’s Senior Communications Officer, outlines the new training andtechnology designed to combat this threat.
How to combat roadworks rage
Role play: The new course onconflict management is interactive
AWARD WINNER
SEE PAGE 5
8-9_Layout 1 03/12/2014 20:18 Page 1
Over 200 people across the business have completedrevamped Environmental Awareness Training.
Eurovia UK is a business that valuesits people and invests in them –that’s what its own employees and
the experts say, writes Clare Habbin, HSE Coordinator.Our Investors in People (IiP) status was
confirmed following an external
assessment involving interviews with
nearly 200 employees across the
business. The company has had the IiP
seal of approval for many years. These
three-yearly reviews test our ongoing
commitment to employee development.
During the summer, IiP’s assessor
visited 18 sites and offices, interviewing
people involved in all aspects of our
work, from divisional operations to
managers and MDs. On average 10-16
people per division met with Pauline
Helliar-Symons, an IiP Specialist.
"I was particularly impressed by the
very positive attitude of staff towards
their work, clients and public, despite
some quite challenging contracts,”
Pauline observed. “They are personally
proud of doing a really high-quality
job.”
The company’s commitment to safety
“came through even more strongly this
time than at the last review,” she added,
citing near miss reporting and the ‘You
said, we did’ campaign.
“Employees also have the opportunity
to ‘own’ their work and make their own
decisions, and I found this to be
motivating too,” Pauline said.
Eurovia UK fully meets the
requirements of the Investors in People
National Standard. “The company has
seen a good number of challenges and
changes since the last review three years
ago, not least because of the big
expansion, but there is a strong senior
management team seeing it through
these changes. This is backed up by
good and regular training that gives
people the confidence to know they are
doing their work in the best and safest
way possible," the assessor concluded.
The course was updated to reflect our way of working and regulatory
requirements two years ago, writes Siobhan Riordan, Sustainability & Corporate
Responsibility Advisor.
Topics covered include waste management and compliance, environmental
legislation and penalties, energy efficiency, water conservation and pollution
prevention.
All Ringway and Eurovia business leaders need to attend the training. The one-
day course is designed not only to increase awareness of environmental risks, but
also to improve efficiency, while reducing the number of environmental incidents.
We hope that the course will be accredited by the IEMA (Institute of
Environmental Management and Assessment) next year.
9
Seal of approvalextremely upset at the disturbance and tensions can
run high,” says Paul. “Staff have actually been
threatened with a shotgun, an axe and knives, which
did result in a police presence on a site in central
London.”
Stop/Go sign poles equipped with digital video
cameras are another way to capture evidence that
can be used to prosecute irresponsible drivers.
Manufactured in-house by Eurosigns, the boards (see
page 3) are proving popular at manually controlled
worksites on several contracts.
Island Roads has been using the hi-tech poles since
October last year and is also among the divisions that
signed up for Eurovia’s latest initiative, a training
course in conflict management. Devised with Ram
Professional Training, the course was successfully
piloted in Hounslow Highways and Ringway
Worcestershire (which also pioneered courtesy signs
at road works).
Ram’s instructors teach employees the importance
of body language, tone of voice and how to read a
situation. Workers receive tips on vehicle awareness
to stay safe when talking to someone seated in a car,
and they’re coached in ‘breakaway’ techniques to use
when an individual threatens violence.
The Health and Safety Executive has commended
the initiative, and the pilot course was well received
by staff.
Gary Lehane from Hounslow Highways’ Network
Management team says the training was “invaluable
in providing lots of tips for dealing with situations,
such as keeping your distance and
using your hands
openly to calm people
down; things you
don’t necessarily think
about on a daily
basis”.
Most training rightly
emphasises the
importance of
protecting the public,
says Dave Campbell,
“but if a third party is
going to go through a
site no matter what,
our staff must feel
warranted to let them
go and call the police”.
Trained to beaware Island Roads trainees completed the one-day course
ive
8-9_Layout 1 03/12/2014 20:18 Page 2
BEAR Scotland first tookover management andmaintenance of trunk roadsin the North East Unit inApril 2001. Since then,we’ve regained the contracttwice, most recently inAugust 2014.
Our approach to thisFourth Generation contractwas shaped by changes inTransport Scotland’sspecification and ourexperience elsewhere on thenetwork, including periodsof extreme winter weatherduring the previous contract.
The minimum number of spreadersspecified has increased from 28 to 40. Ofthese, 32 must have a capacity of at least9m3 and the remainder 6m3. Two hoursis the new minimum treatment time fromstart to end of all routes and alltreatments.
This is a significant change. In the 3Gcontract, the 40gm/m2 treatments –required after rain, and prior to freezingrain and snow – could be done in tworuns, the second within three hours ofcompleting the first.
By going for larger 12m3-capacity
spreaders we are reducing the number ofroutes required to carry out 40g/m2
treatments. The routes are designed sothat the whole unit can be treated atappropriate spread rates in a single passwithin the two-hour limit.
We’ve also reduced labour and plantby equipping trucks to both spread pre-wet salt and spray liquid de-icer. Thisapproach has been proven on our 4Gcontract for the North West Unit, whichbegan in April 2013.
It means the new requirement to treatthe M90 Friarton Bridge with potassiumacetate can be met by the same vehicle
treating the carriageway oneither side.
As with all our winterservice provision acrossScotland, the main focus isto prevent ice forming onthe network througheffective precautionarytreatment.
As well as being equippedto spread pre-wetted saltfor single operators, eachreserve and patrol spreaderhas a GPS tracking system,on-board data logging andsensors for monitoring both
air and road surface temperatures. Thesereadings will be relayed in real time via aweb-based application.
We have a revised network of eightdepots, operating 14 routes forprecautionary treatments up to 20g/m2,
and 20 routes up to 40g/m2. Based on our long experience, we
believe that the 1-in-4-week driver rosterwe’ve planned for the 20gm/m2 routes isthe safest and most sustainable way ofcomplying with the legal limits on drivers’hours while protecting the health andwelfare of our employees, andsafeguarding road users.
insight
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Super-sizing the fleet for 4G contract
LIFE SPAN: The surface of Kessock Bridge, which carries the A9 trunkroad over the Beauly Firth at Inverness, should be maintenance-free for30 years following a £14 million revamp. BEAR Scotland, operatingcompany for North West Scotland, re-opened the bridge five weeks earlyfollowing the resurfacing scheme. This required a specialised high-performance dense mastic asphalt, Gussasphalt, laid by a rail-mountedpaver to very high tolerances with no construction joints. Barriers werereplaced and a range of other maintenance and safety upgradescompleted. Balfour Beatty was main contractor for the works, whichwere timed to avoid peak tourist seasons and major events betweenFebruary and June in 2013 and 2014.
BEAR Scotland has begun the 4th-generation term contract to manage thecountry’s north-east trunk network. Andy Thompson, Operating CompanyRepresentative, outlines its winter strategy for the next six to eight years.
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Stanwell Road West is a 50mph dualcarriageway pounded by HGVs, buses andheavy traffic. This critical route is a Schemeof Specialist Engineering Designation(SSED) under the borough’s PFI, and wasrequired to be brought up to standardwithin the first five years before beingmaintained over the remainder of the 25-year contract.
Detailed visual inspections had pointed toa full reconstruction from the base up. Butextensive coring and other tests, carriedout in conjunction with Jean Lefebvre (UK),revealed that the road’s concrete base wasstructurally sound.
The more cost-effective andenvironmentally sound solution designedby Jean Lefebvre (UK) was to treat theconcrete base with an Armiscreed crackand joint treatment, followed by aregulating course. Then Flexiplast wasapplied to seal the surface before it wasoverlaid with high-density macadamtopped by a layer of UL-M thin surfacingfor durability.
Hounslow Highways was responsible formanaging traffic to minimise disruptionduring the works, which took four weeks
11
Major disruption on a busy roadlink to Heathrow Airport wasavoided this summer as HounslowHighways came up with a carbon-saving solution, while notchingup another PFI milestone.
E-team gets the basics rightPHOTO: Fred Auckland
HANNAH BARTHSERVICE: Joined Eurovia inSeptember from ClugstonConstruction
JOB: “Coming into a different areaof the industry, I’ve already, in ashort period of time, been able to
get new experience and facednew challenges. The helpful
management team here has givenme an enjoyable and positive startwith the company.”
BY THE WAY: “I have an eventhorse that I compete all over thecountry. Also, I enjoy clay pigeonand game shooting throughout theseason.”
Assistant QS, EuroviaContracting (North)
“Despite
Hannah’s short
length of service, and
considering that she is relatively
new to quantity surveying, her
commitment and acumen is already
clearly evident. She has excelled at
the tasks she has been given and is
already proving to be a valuable
member of the team here at
Contracting North. Definitely one
to look out for in the future.”
Chris Barfoot, Managing
Quantity Surveyor
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insight news
to complete, against the 26 weeksoriginally envisaged.
“This was an innovative, optimisedsolution,” says Martin Clack, HounslowHighways Construction Manager. “Anddelivering it within a fixed programmeinvolved the close collaboration of a rangeof Eurovia companies and high-profilestakeholders.”
The close-knit team included: HounslowHighways Graduate Engineer FredAuckland; Eurovia Surfacing’s ContractManager Kevin Vowles and SurfacingSupervisor Martin Graves; Mark Moodyfrom Eurovia Contracting; GrahamShepherd and Kevin Amos of EuroviaSpecialist Treatments; Euromark’s CraigSherritt; as well as Michael Wright fromJLUK.
Among the local organisationsconsulted were Transport for London,London Buses, BAA Heathrow, other localbusinesses and logistics companies, theHighways Agency and Surrey CountyCouncil.
Approaching the end of its second year,Hounslow Highways has now completedfour of its ten SSED milestones.
MAKEOVER MEN: Villages inWorcestershire are receiving acomplimentary ‘makeover’ courtesy ofthe county council’s highwayscontractor. Ringway Worcestershiremade the promise as part of itscommitment to corporate responsibilitywhen it was re-awarded the termcontract earlier this year. Martley Parishwas first to benefit. Cookley village andMalvern Town received their specialtreatment in August. The extra worksincluded: repairing and repainting a busshelter, refurbishing oak benches,cutting verges and overgrowth, andrevamping the car park of a localfootball club.
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Over a year ago SWH rolled out mobiletechnology to crews, coupled with softwarethat allows its central coordination team toschedule works in the most optimal way.
Council works orders, now receivedelectronically at SWH’s operations hub, areautomatically allocated to gangs, based on thetype and location of defects. As the system,called V-works, does this, it takes account ofthe required completion date and availableresources, and plots gangs’ routes to maximisetheir efficiency.
V-works, operating in a similar vein toRingway’s eServe, sends job details to amini-iPad held by the gang foreman, whotakes ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos. It updatesthe order history and status in real time,relaying the information back to the client’ssystem.
The central team can view cluster mapson screen showing the volume of defects,making it easier to plan resources on adaily and weekly basis.
In the wake of last winter’s relentlessstorms, when high winds and torrentialrainfall wreaked havoc on the Devonnetwork, V-works rose to the challenge.
“The number of potholes reported shot upfrom a steady flow of around 600 per week toover 4,000 at its peak,” says Glen Robinson,Operations Director. “V-works allowed us tomonitor resources countywide as the numberof repair crews quadrupled to almost 50. Thesystem took the strain of this additionalworkload, allowing staff to operate morestrategically.”
Pothole reporting has reduced steadily, butby September the level was still 20% up onthe same time last year, when the system hadjust been introduced. “However, the same levelof resource is being used, which demonstratesthe efficiencies we’ve achieved,” says Glen.
“Now that things have settled downsomewhat we’ve recently rolled out V-works tothe lining crews and remaining repair crews.”
SWH is using the system to monitor itsincreased productivity down to gang level aswell as response compliance – a contractperformance indicator, which stands at 95%.V-works also enables unit costs to be trackedand benchmarked. “Currently this is around£41 and remains well below the nationalaverage of £52, as published in the 2014ALARM survey,” Glen adds.
ROCKBEARE & SCISSORS: Gully wastewater and saline effluent are being recycled
by a truly green machine at the Devon HQ of South West Highways. The man-
made reed bed at Rockbeare, which is diverting a significant proportion of gully
waste from landfill, was officially opened this summer. Students from an Exeter
school sponsored by SWH cut the tape, watched by Environment Officer Doug
Parker, representing the Environment Agency. The Rockbeare facility’s oil
interceptor removes hyrocarbons before the wastewater is filtered through six
ponds where microbes and reeds break down contaminants and absorb
impurities. The cleaned water is re-used in gully tankers. In September SWH
started sponsoring Go Karting activities for Southbrook School, which caters for
children with complex needs.
Potholes and other defects across Devon are beingrepaired more efficiently following the timelyintroduction of new systems for managing works.
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V-works rises to the challengeof repairs after storms
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13
From the Prime Minister down tolocal council officers, and even themotorcycle marshals for the race, therewas praise for the Ringway people onthe ground, not to mention themonths of planning, preparatory worksand logistics for the event.
Ringway crews were on callthroughout the July weekend of therace, along the route and in controlcentres. First thing each morning theydrove the stage route, fixing any newproblems before the day’s racing.
Several situations required rapidaction. In Ripon they responded to aburst water main, patching thecarriageway just hours before the
leading cyclists were due. In Skipton,operatives cleared up the debris whena wall was knocked down byspectators. The Harrogate to Skiptonroad had to be dusted and swept toclear an oil leak from one of the Tourorganiser’s vehicles. In Harrogate crewshelped the police to manage roadclosures.
“The hard work of our operativesover two long days working with theemergency services, TdF hub stewardsand the ‘Tour Makers’ helped make itsuch a fantastic success,” says RingwayNorth Yorkshire Divisional Manager PhilJepps. “We received numerous positivecomments after the event.”
LOCAL MILESTONE: Roads on the Isle of Wight are now being paved with locally
produced asphalt. Wight Building Materials opened the island’s modern £3.5 million
facility this summer, securing jobs at the Blackwater Quarry site and boosting local
capacity for aggregate, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt production. A joint venture
between Eurovia and Aggregate Industries, WBM’s high-performance plant can recycle
aggregates and churn out 160t of asphalt per hour. That is more than double its
predecessor, and it is also quieter, cleaner and more efficient. Local MP Andrew Turner
cut the tape at the opening ceremony in August. WBM serves Island Roads’ 25-year
PFI contract to upgrade and maintain highways and the local building sector. The
investment “shows our commitment to supporting a sustainable building materials
business on the Isle of Wight,” says WBM Chairman Simon Willis.
The highly successful staging of the Tourde France brought plaudits in its wake forRingway North Yorkshire.
insight news
Tour de force by planners and crews
Dawnconvoy: Scouting theroute at 4am
Anti-skid blitz onborough streets
Hounslow Highwayspushed the borough’ssafer streets strategyforward this summer,laying high-frictionsurfacing at 65 sites.
Eurovia Specialist Treatments carried out the
work, mainly on key junctions and other sites
with pedestrian crossings and traffic lights.
Following the first trials in London in 1968,
the use of anti-skid treatment to increase
braking distances grew around the country,
but it has declined in recent years.
“Through the highways PFI we were able to
direct the right amount of investment to this
important area,” says Rob Gillespie, Hounslow
Highways Service Director.
“It is encouraging that Hounslow Highways
has chosen this method,” adds Paul Goosey,
EST Divisional Director. “Our continued
investment in dedicated equipment allowed us
to complete this large volume of work.”
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14
insight competition
Again everyone is encouraged to takepart and show the variety of work carriedout across the group – and your ownviewpoint.
“Our industry is stereotyped by the man inhard hat and hi-vis jacket looking at a pieceof plant,” says Dave Campbell, HSE Director.“That may be part of what we do, but wewant to see more varied and imaginativeshots as well. Challenge yourself and yourcolleagues.”
You can illustrate people’s contribution tocharity or sustainability. Show Eurovia’svalues in action. Capture the unusual. Beoriginal.
Details about how to enter thecompetition and the prizes will beannounced soon.
PICTURETHAT!
This year’s winners were (from top): 1st – Scott Gailey,Eurovia Roadstone, for his shot inside the dryer drum atthe Ipswich asphalt plant; and runners-up – Tom Barnes,BEAR Scotland, for overnight litter picking on the M8; andHéctor Garrido of Eurovia for his desk scene.
More than 200 imageswere entered for thisyear’s photo competition,and the aim is to top thatin 2015.
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In the professionalphotographercategory, EuroviaContracting Northwon for thisimage ofcommunityengagement onits Loughboroughscheme
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insight health & safety
The review – which also examined existing processes, equipmentand procedures – was held at a workshop in Peterborough on 30October. This was attended by nominees from the divisions.
This approach has the backing of the group’s HSE SteeringCommittee, which called for the initiative to tackle stubbornly highrates of utility strikes and near misses.
The strategy will include:• new standards in cable avoidance tools;• a new approach to training, following a two-day training course inNovember for ‘safe dig’ trainers;• more detailed incident investigations;• more detailed analysis of all relevant data on excavations.
A new training programme nowbeing rolled out aims to reverse thisunacceptable trend.
“Incident investigations showed weneeded to focus on manual handlingtraining,” says Dave Campbell, HSEDirector. “We looked at the trainingavailable and, based on the resultsachieved in two of our Joint Ventures,decided to trial the training providerPristine Condition.”
For the trial programme in RingwayWorcestershire, Pristine Conditionassessed the work activities carried outdaily in the divisions. “This training isn’thow to lift boxes in an office, it’s aboutcarrying and manoeuvring the
equipment our operatives are using,”says Dave.
The same training will be extended toall term maintenance divisions in thefirst stage of a three-step approach.
Stage two will be training ‘trackers’to observe manual handling activitiesand give feedback on colleagues’ liftingtechniques – as a reminder of theirtraining.
Then, after three years, there will bea review to assess the results. PristineCondition, which also supports incidentinvestigations, guarantees at least a50% reduction in manual handlinginjuries among trained workers whentracker auditing is in place.
Workshop points to safer digs
Training targets handling injuries
A new strategy to promote safe excavatingis being rolled out following a review ofcurrent performance
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Highways work can be hard, but it should never be ‘back-breaking’. Yetinjuries sustained in handling and carrying made up a quarter of allincidents last year across the group. And the trend continued into 2014.
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16
In tandem with Enfield's push for bikes
New ‘office’ givesEssex overview
Highways in Enfield – the borough committed to a ‘cycling revolution’ – arenow being maintained by Ringway Jacobs under a new contract that startedlast month.
Information on all highway maintenanceactivities and improvement schemes inEssex is now being funnelled through acentral, but virtual, office.
Ringway Jacobs launched the Programme
Management Office in the summer. The
PMO is designed to provide the kind of
visibility and control associated with major
projects on a highways service contract.
“We’re taking what has been best practice
for some time in heavy construction and
engineering, and applying it in the services
industry,” says Steve Postles, the consultant,
who managed the project.
“The PMO is now a central source of
knowledge that makes it easier for us and
the client to measure effectiveness and
efficiency,” says Mark Rowe, Service Director.
Using web-based tools, managers and
officers will be able to remotely access all
information to view performance overall, on
a particular scheme, or even drill down to
depot level. That information is displayed via
dashboards, making it easier to organise and
absorb.
Eight people currently run the virtual office,
managing programme planning, analysing
data and reviewing performance. Most were
already employed in similar roles, while the
Head of PMO, Alicja Piotrowska has been
recruited from the Buckinghamshire contract,
where she was Business Manager.
Setting up a central PMO is challenging,
says Steve. “It is very dependent on
discipline. The whole organisation needs to
be contributing.”
But where there are gaps or problems with
the quality of information, the PMO
highlights this. Data has to be accurate,
timely and presented in a consistent way.
Templates make this easier, and the amount
of information is tailored to need. “It’s
important not to over-burden smaller works
with the detail required for large projects,”
he explains.
As a singe source of accurate information,
the PMO will help drive performance
improvement and provide evidence that the
service is reliable, efficient and cost-effective.
The north London borough is the second
to award the joint venture company a full
term maintenance contract under LoHAC –
the pan-London Highways Alliance Contract
brokered by Transport for London.
Ringway Jacobs is responsible for the TfL
network in the north-east quadrant of the
capital – and has been delivering highway
maintenance and improvement schemes on
borough roads in Haringey, Enfield’s southern
neighbour, for over a year.
Worth around £20 million a year, the
Enfield contract will run to 2021 and involve
significant additional design and build work
for the £30 million Cycle Enfield project. This
initiative is backed by London Mayor Boris
Johnson’s £100 million mini-Holland fund for
improvements to encourage cycling by
residents in outer boroughs.
“We are already involved in some exciting
urban regeneration schemes with potential
for much more,” says Phil Skegg, Operations
Director.
Almost 50 staff have transferred from EM
Highway Services and AH Nicholls for the
contract. They are based at a new depot in
Picketts Lock, strategically located for both
Enfield and Haringey contracts. Enfield Civic Centre
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17
insight people
WelcomeapprenticesThis autumn sees a further 20highways apprentices join ourterm services businesses, writesKristine Pollock, Group HumanResources Director.
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They will spend the coming two years learning
and working, obtaining a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Construction Operations and Civil Engineering
Services.
During 2014 we have also welcomed more than
15 other apprentices in street cleansing, street
lighting and business administration.
Our ongoing commitment to the recruitment and
development of young people does not end there.
In 2014 we have had 15 students on summer
placements, seven on year-long industry
placements, as well as three people from our parent
company, Eurovia SA, on shorter placements.
Meanwhile, we appointed seven graduates to full-
time positions, and have already offered places for
2015 to five more.
Our graduate programme has now been running
for more than ten years, and our scheme providing
employment to apprentices began seven years ago.
We intend to continue this approach into 2015 and
beyond.
TIMEOUT WITH: Ray Groves
I used to work in the family
business, a civil engineering and plant
hire company in north London. When
Ringway offered me a full-time role, I
was self-employed subcontractor,
working on a six-week kerbing
contract.
It’s strange the way my training
career happened. I joined as a
general operative in March 2000, was
made general foreman by the end of
the year. Then I was an NVQ Assessor,
a supervisor and did several managerial
jobs.
I relished the challenge when I
moved to the Training Department full-
time in 2008.
It’s absolutely invaluable as a trainer
having done the work yourself. It gives
you a connection with the people
you’re training.
It’s very rewarding passing on
knowledge and experience I’ve gained,
and helping trainees do the same.
You’re making a difference in how
safely we work.
Our workforce can multi-task much
more than 15 years ago when it was
one man, one job.
Training makes us a lot more
efficient and gives people a rounder
understanding of the job and
challenges other people face.
The bureaucracy surrounding training
has grown due to national qualifications
and standards constantly changing.
There’s a danger managers under
pressure to meet targets see training as
a paper-signing exercise. The priority
should always be quality, not speed.
The challenge when you’ve got a
room of people with widely ranging
experience is not to teach the ‘old
hands’ how to suck eggs: you help
them share their experience and feel
part of it.
Some are cynical about training. But
our forefathers had to strive for better
working conditions, because they were
being seriously injured and killed at
work. We all need to remember.
Ifyou
have aproblem, whodo you turn to?
All employees ofRingway and Eurovia are
entitled to free, confidentialsupport. Christmas can be a
stressful time for some. FirstAssistcounsellors are on call to listen and
advise on relationship difficulties, debt orother worrries.
WithChristmas
approaching, now is a greattime to save money on your
shopping. As an employee ofRingway and Eurovia you are entitledto a wide range of special offers and
discounts. From savings onsupermarket essentials to luxury
gifts, check out the deals onour Employee Benefits
Website.
www.personalgroupbenefits.com/ringwayeurovia
Senior Group Plant and Core Skills
Instructor, Eurovia UK DISC
OU
NTS
FIR
STA
SSIS
T
Just call: 0800 716 017
16/17_Layout 1 03/12/2014 20:25 Page 2
Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) –the alliance between the county counciland Ringway Jacobs – has beenworking with Jean Lefebvre (UK) tomodel different scenarios and long-term strategies for maintaining thenetwork. The initiative is a response tolow levels of public satisfaction and theneed to tackle a large backlog of workon the network.
This required rigorous analysis ofsurvey data, including footways, inunprecedented detail to get a betterpicture of its condition. Drawing on itsexperience on the Isle of Wight andHounslow PFIs, and its pavementdesign expertise, JLUK then developedlong-term lifecycle models for allcarriageways and footways on thenetwork.
For A-roads, a standalone £8 millionasset management plan has beendeveloped to trigger correctly timedinterventions to maintain thesestrategic routes in a serviceable
condition. Jonathan Core, JLUKDivisional Manager, says: “This is aspend-to-save strategy whereinvestment now will reap savings in thelong term.”
The team in Bucks has also used theLifecycle Planning Model of theGovernment-backed HighwaysMaintenance and Efficiency Programme(HMEP) to test scenarios for differenttreatment plans, budgets and conditionprofiles.
“Our work to date has helped secureadditional budget for the 2014/15carriageways programme, as well assavings through reduced reactivemaintenance across Buckinghamshire,”says Jonathan.
Highway authorities have to showthey have robust asset managementstrategies to obtain a greater share ofthe £5.8 billion local highwaysfund proposed for 2015-2020 by the Departmentfor Transport.
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18
Model showshow to saveby spendingA smarter approach tomanaging highway assetsis reaping both savingsand higher investment inBuckinghamshire.
MADELINE CLEWETTSERVICE: Transferred 18 monthsago from Isle of Wight Council.
THE JOB: “I’m responsible for theground monitoring network for23 sites, some on activelandslides. They cause numerousproblems for the network butmake this an interesting place to
work in terms of geology andgeotechnics. I love the outdoorsand I’m lucky to have a veryvaried job.”
BY THE WAY: “Outside of work Iplay for my local tennis club,enjoy yoga and I’m a keen kitesurfer.”
Geotechnical Engineer,Island Roads
“Maddy
produces
comprehensive reports and
analysis on any movement,
informing the design process at
an early stage. She has also shown
her abilities in project management
by delivering a difficult piling job at
the Undercliff. Maddy was adept at
dealing with the public and this is
a huge asset as there is immense
interest.”
Kieron Blamey,
Geotechnical Project
Manager
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ENERGY AUDITSThe focus on energy willincrease in 2015, whenanother new regulationcomes into force.
ESOS (the EnergySaving OpportunityScheme) requiresthat all largeorganisationscomplete anenergy audit of
each propertythey occupy. This audit
will identify improvementsleading to greater energy efficiency, costsavings and carbon reductions. So, it’san opportunity to make our businessmore efficient.
Completing assessments of all ourproperties in one year will be a hugecommitment. Each report must detailthe costs of proposed improvements,the time to pay back the investment andthe expected reduction in future energybills.
We need to take on board therecommendations and plan theimprovements that will make Euroviamore energy-efficient and benefit ourbottom line as well as the environment.
HOMESAVINGSNow’s a great time toswitch your home gas andelectricity supplier as well.Winter is on the way andwhile energy prices are stillquite stable at the moment, theytend to rise at this time of year.
The average household spends£1,100 on its annual energy bills.Many can save £100s as well asguarantee no price hikes with a fixedtariff. This freezes the price of each unitof energy you use for a set time. Butbeware of contracts with early exit fees.It’s important to compare the differentdeals available as it’s not possible topoint to one tariff that’s best value foreverybody. Prices depend on yourregion and how much you consume.Websites like uswitch.com andmoneysavingexpert.com can help guideyou to the best deals.
Some providers also throw in freeroof and wall insulation with their dealstoo, which may enable you to cut yourconsumption, saving £100s more everyyear.
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insight sustainability
Gas andelectricity bills aresome of the biggestcosts of running abusiness or home.Sustainability & CorporateResponsibility Advisor SiobhanRiordan explains how we can cutcosts and carbon too.
How we can cut our bills
JOINT PURCHASINGEach year Eurovia UK spends over £1.4million on electricity and gas supplies for64 properties and a street lightingcontract.
To get the best terms possible, we havejoined forces with VINCI companies in theUK to work with an energy consultancy,who will broker our energy purchasingfor us. Schneider, the company whotendered to win this role, is alreadyfamiliar with our portfolio of properties asthey have handled our Carbon ReductionTax for the last four years.
Schneider will remove the burden ofadministering multiple energy contractsas well as cutting costs. Currently, whenour energy contracts run out, they go onto a different tariff, which can often bedouble the previous rate. This is a trap wehave been falling into for many of ourproperties.
With this new agreement, theconsultancy will manage these contractrenewals for us, getting a good rate andensuring we don’t end up payingpenalties.
So, in the next few months Schneiderwill be contacting each business to reviewyour property energy contracts andensure that we capture all renewalsunder the same agreement. In turn, thiswill make us a more attractive customerto suppliers, helping us minimise thatenergy bill in the future too.
18-19_Layout 1 03/12/2014 23:20 Page 2
In Shropshire,
Ringway’s Bridges
and Structures Team
has been hard at
work since the
spring, repairing
and restoring
crossings in the
wake of winter
storms.
Aston Bridge,
spanning the River
Roden near Wem,
was built in 1841. A listed structure, its
leaning downstream face was at risk of
collapse.
Before work could safely begin, a propping
system had to be designed and built.
The team then stripped back the parapet
and spandrel walls down to the arch ring. Its
other parapet was also removed and rebuilt,
while masonry repairs were carried out on the
abutment walls.
Myddle stone was selected and cut on site
to replace damaged blocks. Ringway
Supervisor and Blockmason Mike Hughes led
the team, which included local block and
stone masons.
Their efforts were praised by local councillor
Chris Mellings: “This is an historic bridge of
great character. We have been concerned for
some time about its state and are obviously
delighted the repairs have been carried out so
sympathetically by Ringway.”
A conservationist approach was also
required at Burlington Ford, off the A5 near
Crackley Bank. Used by southbound traffic,
the ford’s cobbled splashdown was hazardous
after years of patchwork repairs, but the
Parish Council was keen to retain the
remaining setts.
These were excavated by Ringway
Shropshire’s Operative Mike Hughes. As
sandbags kept the water at bay, the cobbles
were re-set in concrete and finished off with a
specialist quick-setting grout, before the
ramps either side were resurfaced by hand
with asphalt.
The two-week job was completed, to the
delight of the Parish Council, in September.
The bridges of Shropshire countyThey have withstood the passage of time, flood and traffic they were neverdesigned for. The country’s masonry arch bridges are valued by localcommunities, and deserving of sympathetic care and repair.
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insight news
HOW MANY STRUCTURES ARE THERE INTHE COUNTY?We have over 1,000 bridges and structures across
Shropshire to attend to, which keeps our full-time
team extremely busy.
HOW BIG IS YOUR TEAM?During our busiest period – which is April through
to October – we have up to ten gangs. During the
quieter winter period, when our focus is on
emergency works only, we have five gangs
consisting of two, three or four people.
WHY IS IT QUIETER IN THE WINTER?The specialist materials we use are affected by the
winter weather conditions. Also, as much of our
work involves working in and around water
courses, we have to be careful about interfering
with protected species such as fish, Great Crested
newts, crayfish, otters, water voles and bats.
DO YOUR TEAMS WORK IN DEEPWATER?Although we are often working in water, we only
work up to knee level. Where water is deeper, we
call upon specialist diving teams.
WHAT SCHEMES HAVE YOUCOMPLETED THIS YEAR?We’ve done a few but the ones I’m particularly
proud of include Lloyney Bridge on the Powys
border, Aston Bridge and Burlington Ford (see
above). The two bridges are listed and were
partially collapsing because they simply weren’t
designed for today’s heavy traffic. It was particularly
challenging to figure out how to fix them, from
Q&A with IanEastgate, Bridgesand StructuresSupervisor, RingwayShropshire.
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With continued growth of the business, the division had outgrown the old depot in
Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham and moved to a new, larger office only a mile away.
“We wanted to stay in the same area as it is a good location for staff, clients,
suppliers and is close to the M1 and A1, so the Midlands or North of England are
equally accessible,” says Kevin Graham, Divisional Director. “We felt it was time to
move to a more appropriate base, in keeping with the business we are now.”
The division has quadrupled over the past six years. Eurovia Contracting (North)
employs over 70 people, although many are based on site.
Silkstone House has desk space for up to 40 people and can host meetings,
workshops or training sessions for up to 20 at a time.
Fast-growing division goes extra mile in RotherhamEurovia Contracting’s team in the North movedinto new offices in September.
Developed by Eurovia SA in France, Gripseal
combines the benefits of surface dressing and
Eurovia’s proprietary product, GripFibre –
without the drawbacks of the former.
Proven in South Africa, Canada and Europe
over recent years, Gripseal seals the pavement
and provides a low-noise surface with no loose
aggregate.
London Road, a country lane leading
through the Cheshire town of Boston Green,
was badly in need of surface dressing, and
well suited to this traditional solution. Except,
that is, for the resultant tracking of emulsion
on residents’ shoes, tyre noise and risk from
flying chips.
As a conventional asphalt system was
beyond the council’s budget, Eurovia Specialist
Treatments evaluated other options, says
Divisional Director Paul Goosey.
“The priorities were to waterproof the
existing surface layer and provide a stable and
quiet running surface as there was only minor
surface deformation despite the crazing and
cracking. Boston Green was an ideal location
for this first UK trial,” he explains.
Using the skills of both EST’s surface
dressing and GripFibre teams, this was
successfully completed over two days this
summer.
Abroad, Gripseal has mostly been used as a
cold-technology alternative to thin surfacings,
with large areas treated daily to reap economic
and environmental benefits.
“This is an innovative product that Eurovia
will be promoting within the UK,” says Paul.
21
Ideal test site forhybrid surfacingCash-strapped UKhighway authorities haveanother resurfacingsolution to choose fromfollowing a successful trialof a new product inCheshire West.
shoring them up to getting the right materials. On Burlington Ford, we carefully excavated
the original cobbles and reset them which has given the job a really nice finish.
DO YOU SOURCE ORIGINAL MATERIALS?We work very closely with the council, parish councils and heritage organisations to restore
the structures as sympathetically as possible. Obviously we do have to use modern
materials but tend to use those underneath. On Lloyney Bridge, for example, we pumped
a specially designed mix of underwater concrete to secure the scour to the abutment, and
the wing wall was built out of cropped walling stone, which we use on most bridges.
WHAT SKILLS DO YOU NEED IN YOUR TEAM?The team are either stonemasons, shutterers (form workers), bricklayers or experienced in
concrete works – or in all of these areas. When we require other specialist skills, we tend
to use specialist subcontractors.
WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU?I have to say that Peter Gould - the previous Bridges and Structures Supervisor - was a
huge inspiration for me and the team. Without him, I can honestly say we wouldn’t be
where we are today.
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insight news
Sites will be programmed over five main phases for resurfacing, as wellas line marking, minor drainage works, joint sealing, ironwork, high-friction surfacing and the installation of traffic loops. The contract will bereviewed in 2016 and can be extended for a further two years. It followsEurovia Contracting’s successful management and delivery of the 2012-2014 Kent Highway Maintenance Lot 1 Contract that covered the northof the county.
The division has also successfully completed a £1.5 million majorreconstruction scheme on a 2km stretch of the M42/M6 Toll Road,which included a new traffic monitoring system on the four-lanecarriageway, for Midland Expressway Ltd.
In Southend-on-Sea, a £750,000 highway maintenance contract comprisingseven sites has been delivered with coated materials supplied by EuroviaRoadstone’s Dagenham plant. Also in Southend borough, work continues on its£500,000 public realm scheme on the A13 Queensway.
Earlier this year a major resurfacing improvement scheme was completed forCambridgeshire County Council on a 2km stretch of the A141 Isle of Ely Way.
The Contracting Division has also begun work under a new frameworkagreement with QinetiQ, the research and technology organisation for theMinistry of Defence.
Eurovia secured the three-year deal for road and pavement repairs andmaintenance at QinetiQ’s facilities, including Farnborough, Boscombe Down,Malvern and other sites across the UK. Both the Surfacing and ContractingDivisions are involved in the current works programme.
...as Alliance marches on
Southend's Western Esplanade:one of the resurfaced sites
Eurovia Contracting has successfully completed further contracts under theEastern Highways Alliance Framework.
Roads across the whole of Kent are beingresurfaced by Eurovia Contracting under a newtwo-year Highway Maintenance Contract thatstarted this summer.
New contract has Kent covered...
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Night works: on the M6 Toll
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ave
Bojk
o
2015 isgoing tobe tasty!
Keep your eyes peeled for the 2015 Eurovia Calendar,which is coming to desktop computers across the business
There will be healthy (and delicious) recipetips, competitions to enter, easy exercises tokeep you fit, and more.
Each month will have a different themeand simple, practical advice, all designedwith your wellbeing in mind. The calendarwill help promote and coordinate variouscompetitions that will be spread out over the
coming months. “It’s the first desktop design we have
produced,” says Dave Campbell, HSEDirector, “and its themes will be supportedby posters and pictorial toolbox talks. So itskey messages will be communicated outacross the business and not just to thoseworking in an office environment.”
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insight community
THREE BY SIX Six employees from Ringway and Eurovia took up the Yorkshire
Three Peaks Challenge in September. Richard Whitaker from Ringway North Yorkshire and
Barrie Stephens of Eurovia Contracting North were joined by Suzanne Seaman, Lucinda
Welch, Steve Jeffery and Dean Stead from Milton Keynes. They completed the 25-mile
walk – climbing 1600m on the county’s highest hills: Pen y Ghent, Whernside and
Ingleborough – in 11 and a quarter hours. Their feat raised over £500 for Macmillan to
support people living with cancer.
CAKE & COFFEE Hounslow Highways raised just over
£500 on the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Macmillan Cancer
Support. Insurance Officer Angela Ames organised the day’s array of
home-baked and shop-bought cakes, scones and cupcakes – with help
from CIP Administrator Emma Craw (pictured).
BACK TO FUTURE Graduates working for Island Roads
went back to school to inspire Year 7 students to consider Science, Civil
Engineering and Technology careers. Joanne Huett, Will Orr, Jason Boulter
and Lindsay Borthwick ran a day’s science-based activities as 120 students at
Medina High School learnt about drainage and building roads and bridges.
PITCHING IN Staff at Horsham head office marked September’s
Volunteering Month by clearing nettles, brambles and pond vegetation, and
tackling other tasks around Broadbridge Guide Camp. Led by Siobhan
Riordan, the team comprised Sam Bearne, Julie Frogley, Claire Branfield, Iain
Anderson, Sarah McGurk and Les Hewitt from the CCTV division.
COMMUNITY ROUND-UP
CHRIS DOVEYSERVICE: 52 years in total; TUPE’d toRingway in 2005.
THE JOB: “I have thoroughly enjoyed myworking career. Starting as a road worker,I was a Foreman within two years. Later Itook over the WCC special works
department for major sites and
bridgeworks. Now I’m glad to be involvedin this contract which is the best it’s everbeen.”
BY THE WAY: Chris is a keen gardener, hasrecently taken up walking as a pastime,and enjoys his winter break to theCanaries.
Contracts Manager, RingwayWorcestershire
“Chris
continues to
bring a wealth of
experience to the
contract. He always
shows total commitment
and acts as an excellent
mentor to younger
members of staff.”
Dave Rowley,
Divisional
Manager
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AN
SA
VAG
E
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lice
Cam
pion
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insight news
Insight is published by Eurovia UK Ltd, Albion House,
Springfield Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 2RW
Feedback to: Tracey Elms, Group Marketing & PR Manager.
24
Edited & produced by Silke & Co. W: www.silke.co.ukDesigned by Tom Thompson Design. E: [email protected]
Printed on Revive 50:50 Silk, a recycled paper containing 50% recycled waste and50% virgin fibre, and manufactured at a mill certified to ISO 14001 environmentalmanagement standards. The pulp used in this product is bleached using an ECF(elemental chlorine-free) process.
The Old Flatts
Bridge project is the
first to be let under
the MHA’s second
framework
agreement for
medium-sized
schemes (MSF2).
Although it lies
within Rotherham
borough, Old Flatts
Bridge forms part of
the main route into
Sheffield from Junction 33 of the M1.
The £3 million scheme for the
metropolitan borough council will
continue until autumn next year.
Eurovia’s North division has worked
with Rotherham on several high-
profile schemes over the last 10 years.
Construction of the £11.5 million
A57 Todwick Bypass – a 1km dual
carriageway – was completed in
March this year. Another £3.4 million
scheme, to transform the Pool Green
roundabout on the A630 Centenary
Way into a four-way signalised
junction, is on site now and due for
completion in the spring.
Both contracts were awarded under
the previous MHA framework.
On his inauguration this summer, David chose
‘Making the Journey’ as his theme for the year. This is
also the title of the manifesto – published by the CIHT
in September – calling for a clear national transport
strategy for the UK.
David led the successful PFI bid for the Isle of Wight,
and the chartered engineer remains involved in some of
the more
technically
challenging
aspects of
the core
investment
phase,
while also
fulfilling his
CIHT
duties.
Rotherham contractis latest for Alliance
President Gibbylobbies politicians
BEDS & BOLLARDS: Vegetables and herbsare being grown in raised beds built byRingway volunteers for a food bank inMilton Keynes. Buszy, a charity for disabledand disadvantaged young people, occupiesthe town’s former bus station. The 12-strong Ringway Milton Keynes team alsoapplied specialist paint to smarten up itsold bus-bay bollards, restoring theirplaques displaying the bay numbers. Aswell as a sustainable supply of freshproduce for a local food bank charity, thelarge raised beds will provide activities forthe people Buszy aims to help.
ISLAND AWARDS: Projects toimprove people’s life skills andreduce social exclusion arebeing considered for cashawards by a new charitablefoundation. The Isle of WightFoundation, launched in thesummer by Island Roads, ismodelled on the VINCIFoundation, created by Eurovia’sparent company in 2002. Thefirst awards, ranging from£3,000 to £16,000, will beannounced in December.
!
Eurovia’s David Gibby has beenbusy during this autumn’s politicalparty conferences co-hostingfringe meetings in his role asPresident of the CharteredInstitution of Highways andTransportation (CIHT).
Works to repair an elevated section of the SheffieldParkway are underway as Eurovia Contracting(North) consolidates its links with the MidlandsHighway Alliance.
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att
Stub
bing
s
Pool Green: new junctionunder construction
David with Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury
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