Carriageway Widening at Moulton Paddocks Estate
Client: Godolphin Management Company Limited
Value: £ 235,000
Duration: 7 weeks
Completion: February 2007
Project Brief
Widening of existing B1506 Bury Lane, over 285 m, to give 3 No. 3.5m traffic lanes and 1m hardshoulder, providing a filter lane for the entrance to Moulton Paddocks Estate. The width of the widening varied from zero to 4.5m.
Background to the Contract
The Moulton Paddocks Estate in Newmarket is owned by Godolphin - the racing organisation started in 1994 by Sheikh Mohammed and other members of the Dubai royal family. In order to accommodate proposed expansion and improvement of the existing facilities, Suffolk County Council insisted on access improvements to improve safety at the junction by providing a dedicated right turn lane from Bury Lane and into the stud.
The Works
The contract required extensive site clearance, predominantly involving tree removal, to be undertaken prior to excavation of the existing verge area.
Following excavation, works included the installation of 75m3 Aquacell surface water drainage in the verge alongside the widened section. This was backfilled with over 100 Tonnes of gravel to aid surface water run off and storage.
Two new kerbed traffic islands were constructed with retro-reflective bollards and new signs. The signs were mounted on removable post columns to allow for the passage of wide loads. This was not an original design item but was advised to the client when it became known that the road is frequently used as a boat haulage route.
A collapsed drainage duct which runs from the Moulton Paddocks entrance and under the main carriageway was relaid. The duct continued through the widened carriageway and outfalled into the new Aquacell drainage system.
The civils works were carried out alongside BT who appointed their own sub-contractor to divert existing ducts and install several new chambers. Tarmac were required to work closely with this sub-contractor and following several meetings prior to the scheme commencing, it was agreed that BT would use our excavation to install their ducts, thus saving the client money and reducing the duration of the works. In order to keep the works on programme Tarmac assisted by installing 1400 lin m of the BT ducting.
Construction of the new carriageway area comprised of 500mm deep Type 1 recycled sub-base (the same recycled materials were also used elsewhere in the works and consisted of crushed concrete or carriageway planings; in total over 900 Tonnes of this recycled material was used), 100mm of HD Base, 70mm of Binder and 50mm of HRA and pre-coated chippings. Upon completion of surfacing, buff and red High Friction Surfacing and revised roadmarkings and studs were installed.
Additional works also included the re-alignment of 100m of timber fencing (to prevent horses from uncontrolled access to carriageway) that was surface treated with a protective paint to match the existing.
Works of equine nature included construction of 2 No. horse walkways, 3m in width and either side of the widened road, (65m in total) using 40 Tonnes of Carrstone overlaid with 30 Tonnes of waxed basalt finish (frost resistant product supplied and manufactured by specialist supplier nominated by the Jockey Club) and 2 No. horse trap crossing points using rubberised TurfSurf finish.
Tarmac also had to relocate existing whip post trigger signs (and existing power cables) which activate hazard lights on the B1506 when horses are crossing the carriageway. All this was done in close conjunction with the Jockey Club who use the crossing to gain access to the gallops.
The widening also required the relocation of an existing ambulance entrance to the Jockey Club. This necessitated full depth construction (250mm recycled Type 1 sub-base, 100mm base, 70mm binder course, 40mm surface course). The existing fence and field gate were erected in a new position.
As an addition to the original design the entrance to Moulton Paddocks was realigned and widened to accommodate increased vision splays for exiting traffic. This required removal and replacement of the kerb line including the use of offlet kerbing ducted to a new french drain to remove surface water (a historical problem for Moulton Paddocks). The surface course to the widened entrance was then relayed to a designed profile to further aid removal of water.
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