Background
The London Borough of Lambeth (LBL) commissioned Project Centre to manage their entire highways improvement programme.
A prior conditional survey showed that a sizeable percentage of the footway and carriageway needed repairs. Due to limited funding and project deadlines, we created a plan to prioritise areas of intervention, aiming to resurface the most damaged highway assets on a like-for-like basis.
Process
Securing funding to undertake the highway improvement programme was challenging. Project Centre supported LBL with the development of business case submissions, cabinet reports, stakeholders’ engagement, and funding applications. We utilised internal resources as much as possible and we ensured that our designs were defined and agreed upon by the client before working on the feasibility and detailed strategy. This helped the Council to plan timely and cost-effective interventions.
We also supported the client with:
- Developing a comprehensive asset management strategy to prioritise resurfacing interventions
- Reviewing construction documents to capture risks and requirements
- Resurfacing Lambeth roads with warm mix asphalts helping to reduce CO2 pollution levels
- Replacing all old asphalt footways with concrete modular flagged paving enhancing aesthetic and housing value
- Installing Sustainable Drainage Systems, greening features, and trees on the footways to reduce water run-off and support the Council’s environmental targets
- Providing new dropped crossings and tactile units to assist mobility-impaired and vulnerable pedestrians.
- Implementing traffic calming measures to increase road safety
- Removing hazardous materials on the streets as well as repairing blocked gullies and replacing vehicle crossovers to improve movement on the carriageway
Outcome
Our highways team worked collaboratively with the client and stakeholders, developing a holistic resurfacing plan on time and within budget.
Without improving the assets, these roads would continue to deteriorate and become a liability for Lambeth Council. Our resurfacing designs reduced the future maintenance and inspections costs, increasing investment in the highway network, and overall improving the streets’ condition and quality for residents and businesses.
Below is a before and after picture.
