The facts
Client: Highways Agency
Location: A556 Cheshire
Services: Preliminary Design, Detailed
Design, Geotechnical Investigation,Traffic Assessments, Contract
Documentation, Environmental Appraisal, Economic Appraisal, Traffic
Modelling, Public Exhibition, Project Management
Project Value: Estimated
£100m
The project
The A556(T) provides a 6.5km link between M6 Junction 19
and M56 Junction 7 and forms part of the main route between
Manchester and the Midlands and South.
Capita Symonds was initially commissioned by the Highways Agency to
undertake a concept study to consider the feasibility of an
improvement to dual carriageway standard. The objective of
the study was to demonstrate that the proposed improvement would
provide good value for money and was economically justified.
Eight alternative options were developed, designed to current
DMRB standards. Robust cost estimates taking account of
optimism bias and risk were developed for each option.
A SATURN model was developed to allow operational assessment
together with an economic appraisal using TUBA, COBA and
QUADRO. A Stage 1 Environmental Appraisal was also carried
out in
accordance with DMRB Volume 11.
As part of this study we also carried out an assessment of Wider
Economic
Benefits and Impacts on GDP to assist in a bid for Transport
Innovation Funding.
As a direct result of the conclusions of this study, we were
commissioned to carry out an assessment of two alternative route
options to allow the HA to identify the best value option. This
involved a public exhibition, together with the supply of
information/documentation to assist in production of a Targeted
Programme of Improvements (TPI) entry submission for the Preferred
Route. The work involved in this study is summarised as
follows:
- Stage 2 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with production
of an associated report;
- Amendments to the SATURN traffic model to allow the assessment
of variable demand;
- Variable demand economic appraisal using TUBA/DIADEM;
- Completion of Appraisal Summary Tables and WebTAG worksheets;
and
- Undertake public exhibition, recommending Preferred Route.
The improvement scheme was successfully entered into the TPI and
an Early Contractor Involvement contract for construction of the
scheme has recently been agreed.