This newsletter provides key updates on the Mead Way scheme and details of any road closures and diversions which may affect you, your staff or your customers.

If you'd like any more information, you can find this on our website or by contacting the team.

If you’re new to the newsletter, you can also read previous editions here.

Above: north west corner, Westmead

A complex network of cables and pipes underneath the Mead Way road surface has contributed to the recent delay in the scheme, as individual utility companies have to wait their turn to move their equipment before the next firm moves in. The road surface cannot be completed until all the utilities have been diverted.

However, good progress is now being made on this front as the utility company with the largest number of cables to move is coming to the end of its work on site. This will then allow the other companies to complete their own work.

The subway bridge near the start of the Western Flyer is being fully overhauled and this will continue after the services have been moved.

Above: Depth and extent of utility works on Mead Way

More than 200 days have been lost on the scheme due to a combination of utility companies or their sub-contractors not being able to attend the site during the first national lockdown while, in recent months, the scheme has suffered as utility contractors have been unable to attend the site due to a backlog of work caused by the pandemic.

Further delays were caused by wildlife issues within Phase 2. Mitigations were in place against these risks but the scheme was still adversely affected.

High level discussions have taken place between ourselves and a number of utility companies in order facilitate the works within a reasonable timeframe.

No extra borrowing is required for the works at Mead Way, as the funding is covered by Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Above, from left to right: View looking west showing several utility cables overlaying each other, owned by different contractors, and a gulley location  

Above: work taking place outside the Fire and Rescue Service entrance

The second phase of the project began in January 2021, with some of the work being off the live carriageway.

Our revised programme shows that the utility companies will be able to complete their work in the next few weeks. Once this has finished, Britannia Construction Ltd can then continue to install kerbs and build the foundations of the new lane. 

The contractor can then concentrate on laying the new road surface so the road can be reopened in November.

Above, clockwise: BT utility chamber, MH12 vicinity and Mead Way footpath construction looking south

If you would like to receive regular updates on all highways schemes across the Borough, why not sign up to receive the three-weekly Highways News newsletter.

Please forward this newsletter on to anyone you think would find it useful. They can sign up to the newsletter using this link