Background
We provide Thurrock Council with design consultancy and asset management services for their highway structures to help maintain a safe and functioning highway network.
This includes major structural refurbishment and replacement schemes, maintenance plans, structural assessments and inspections. We also made improvements to their online asset database and provided technical advice on highway and Network Rail standards and their statutory obligations.
Process
Thurrock Council’s structures assets vary significantly in form, scale, condition and purpose. Our team’s technical, commercial and communication skills allow us to understand the client’s objectives and develop solutions to address them. Our project management skills mean we complete schemes to programme, within budget and to the highest standards.
Project Centre developed a comprehensive, risk-based, structural inspection programme for Thurrock Council, compliant with DMRB CS 450. This increased the Principal Inspection intervals of their lower-risk structures, reducing inspection costs and allowing reinvestment of these savings into their network.
Based on our inspection data, we develop and deliver major refurbishment schemes, preventative maintenance works and sustainable routine maintenance strategies. This includes planning site investigations and completing concept, preliminary and detailed designs. Works range from joint replacements and repairs to major strengthening and full asset replacement. This reduces whole-life costs and the need for disruptive reactive maintenance. We ensure our designs are compliant with current standards and adopt a sustainable holistic approach.
We also undertake the role of the Technical Approval Authority and Principal Designer following the CDM 2015 Regulations. Our professionally qualified engineers have extensive experience in undertaking these roles and providing technical advice and assurance.
We organise and lead regular meetings with the Council and other relevant stakeholders to enable collaboration. This minimises costs and disruption to their network, for example utilising existing road closures and track possessions to complete inspections. The extensive collaboration between our team, the client, multiple contractors and other third parties such as Network Rail was essential to meeting the Council’s objectives.
Outcome
Thurrock Council now has structural and condition data for all structures, supporting long-term asset investment planning and reducing the risk posed to the highway network and road users.
We play a fundamental role in Thurrock Council achieving its goals and meeting statutory requirements. Our work improves the condition of their highway structures and eliminates safety hazards whilst maintaining continuity of network operations.
Project Centre’s continued successful delivery and collaborative working led the client to extend our framework contract.
