2020 Report details for project: A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening
| Project name | A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening - there are 2 reports for this project: 2020, 2021 |
|---|---|
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| Contracts | Contracts search (opens in new window) - under development |
| Organisation | DFT (D9) - see all reports for this organisation |
| Report year | 2020 (data is from September 2019) |
| Category | Infrastructure - see all reports for this category |
| Description: | A12 Chelmsford to A120 Widening - widening the A12 to three lanes between junction 19 (north of Chelmsford) and junction 25 (A120 interchange). |
| DCA (RAG) | Amber |
| DCA text: | The IPA Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at Q2 1920 (30th September 2019) was Amber, due primarily to the following factors; - In September 2019, the project was preparing to announce a preferred route announcement for Junctions 19 to 23, as well as a non-statutory consultation for Junctions 23 to 25. The delivery confidence assessment was based on three key outstanding issues which were causing increased project uncertainty on how the scheme would progress. Firstly, there was uncertainty on the timing and outcome of the North Essex Authorities Local Plan, which included the Colchester Braintree Borders Garden Community. Whether the Garden Community was found viable or not in the Local Plan would inform the decision on a proposed route between Junction 23 and 25, as the route may have needed to divert southwards around the proposed Garden Community footprint. - Secondly, in order to divert the road southwards to accommodate the Garden Community, the project required additional funding. The additional funding was to come forward via a Housing Infrastructure Bid submitted by Essex County Council to MHCLG. At the time of the DCA, it was not known whether this would be approved. - Finally, there was a risk of delay to making the PRA for Junction 19-23, a critical milestone to maintain the delivery programme. Approval was subject to discussions with DfT around the interaction with potential RIS3 pipeline projects such as the A120 Braintree to A12. Failure to make the PRA for Junction 19 to 23 in October 2019 would have introduced a significant delay and additional costs. Since the Q2 1920 (30th September 2019) Amber IPA DCA, the following non-project operating environment activities have impacted the original Q2 IPA DCA; - The sources of uncertainty highlighted in the September 19/20 DCA assessment have been resolved.In May 2020, the Planning Inspector's report on the Local Plan determined that the Colchester Braintree Borders Garden Community was unviable. This is not expected to be challenged by the Local Authorities. While Housing and Infrastructure Funding was announced in March 2020, this was conditional on delivering the Garden Community housing. This funding is now expected to be withdrawn. - With no viable Garden Community, and without funding for the additional costs of realignment of the A12 further south, the project now has clarity on the recommended route alignment. This recommendation will be taken through governance with the intention of announcing a preferred route for the section between junction 23 to 25 in the autumn. Since the Q2 1920 (30th September 2019) Amber IPA DCA, the following primary project actions have impacted the original Q2 IPA DCA; - The project team announced the Preferred Route for Junctions 19-23 in October 2019. In the same month, the project launched a non-statutory consultation on four route options between Junctions 23-25 of the A12 to accommodate the Garden Community. In November 2019, the project mobilised a programme of investigative surveys, which were designed to de-risk the preliminary design stage by providing geotechnical and condition data. - HE has now completed its internal procedures and the recommendation is going to IPDC on 15 June. Alongside this request, DfT and HMT will consider the use of Highways England Regional Delivery Partnerships as the project's procurement route and development phase funding, which will allow the project to proceed into the development phase of the scheme and prepare its' development consent order. |
| Start date | 2015-04-01 |
| End date | 2028-05-01 |
| Schedule text | The scheduled project end date at Q2 1920 (30th September 2019) is 01/05/28, due primarily to the following factors; - The schedule allows for design development and preparation of the submission to the Planning Inspector. This includes additional surveys, statutory consultation, and further design and assessment works. - After the design, under the planning act (2008), an application will be submitted to the Planning Inspector. The statutory timescales for a Development Consent Order are approximately 18 months - Once orders are received there will be a construction period starting in Summer 2023, scheduled for 4 years until Open for Traffic in Summer 2027. One year post opening assessment period is allowed for until Summer 2028. Since the Q2 1920 (30th September 2019) baseline project end date of 01/05/28, the following non-project operating environment activities have impacted the original Q2 baseline project end date; - The planning inspector letter on the Local plan was expected by March 31st 2020, however was published on May 19th 2020. This meant there was greater uncertainty for the project for this period while scoping surveys and making preparations for the start of preliminary design. - In addition, Covid-19 has impacted on the project schedule. Traffic counts were cancelled in March 2020 due to the reduced traffic as a result of Covid-19 mitigations. The project has put in place revised traffic modelling strategies to minimise the impact of this. Since the Q2 1920 (30th September 2019) baseline project end date of 01/05/28, the following primary project actions have impacted the original Q2 baseline project end date; - The project has implemented mitigations to respond to the impact of Covid-19, such as revised traffic modelling and a complete review of method statements to ensure activities being undertaken to progress the project are safe. - To ensure the project could progress as quickly as possible, two route proposals for Junctions 23 to 25 were progressed through Highways England governance processes (Normally this would be one route). This allowed the project additional time to wait for the Planning Inspector's letter whilst minimising the impact on schedule. |
| Baseline | £12.98m |
| Forecast | £12.98m |
| Variance | None% |
| Variance text: | Budget variance less than 5% |
| Whole Life Cost | £1,145.37m |
| WLCost text: | The baseline Whole Life Cost at Q2 1920 (30th September 2019) is £1,145.37m, due primarily to the following factors; - The WLC at Q2 remained unchanged from Q1. The WLC at Q2 aligned with the approved budget. - The WLC is based on the assured Commercial Estimate at the time, received in March 2019, of £1,145.37m Since the Q2 1920 (30th September 2019) £1,145.37m baseline Whole Life Cost, the following non-project operating environment activities have impacted the original baseline Q2 Whole Life Cost; - A revised inflation profile has been implemented, reducing the WLC Since the Q2 1920 (30th September 2019) £1,145.37m baseline Whole Life Cost, the following primary project actions have impacted the original Q2 baseline Whole Life Cost; - Value engineering work has been undertaken, reducing the WLC. Value engineering outputs included a reduction in the volume of earthworks required, rationalisation of environmental mitigation measures and a shorter constructionduration. - The project has also assessed the cost benefits of the proposed procurement route - Regional Delivery Partnerships - which is expected to achieve additional cost benefits. |
| Notes1: | None |
| Notes2: | |
| Sourcefile | IPA_2020.csv |
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