Transport - Highways
"The challenge is to maintain the network and provide enhancements to the road network without unnecessary disruption to drivers or to neighbouring businesses and residents." Nigel Scott, Sector Director, Civil Engineering
The bulk of Osborne’s work in the highways sector comes through frameworks and partnering. We have recently completed our first year as one of four contractors on the Midlands Works Framework 3, working both for the Highways Agency and for Midlands Highways Alliance member local authorities, who are encouraged to use the framework’s contractors as a means of improving delivery of their highway schemes.
Osborne operates within the framework in joint venture with Aggregate Industries, so we can offer the full range of specialist skills needed for highway maintenance and improvements. We felt that the client would get best value from the framework if the contractors pooled their resources and knowledge rather than working in direct competition with each other. As part of our bid we therefore proposed that the framework contractors should form a community to share best practice and efficiency improvements. In the first year of the framework Osborne led that community, and took a lead in informing all local authorities in the region of the benefits of using the framework.
The framework arrangement mirrors Osborne’s open way of working, including giving clients early warning of any issues that could adversely affect a project, regular cost forecasts and clear visibility of our performance. This is demonstrated not just by the Highways Agency’s own key performance indicators, but by our ongoing audit of how we are achieving the deliverables we promised in our bid submission. A year into the framework we have achieved 96% of the deliverables promised within our quality bid.
We have just started work on a major improvement to Junction 2 of the M6 as part of this framework. The contract has been split between ourselves and another of the contractors and, in order to provide best value for the client, the two contractors are sharing a site compound and co-ordinating traffic management.
Osborne is also undertaking a number of other frameworks directly for local authorities, including one with Hampshire County Council for structures, infrastructure and highways maintenance, and another with Southampton City Council for structures.
Early in 2009 we completed a project for Portsmouth City Council to install cathodic protection on the M275 Interchange bridges in Tipner, a project that was awarded on an Early Contractor Involvement basis. The project was completed ahead of programme.
The Highways Agency has been delighted to be working with Osborne on several high profile schemes recently. I find the service given to be top class because Osborne understands the Highways Agency's priorities. Safety, both workers and motorists, has always been a key consideration. Reliability of motorists’ journeys is now more important than ever. Osborne has been flexible in working to improve this important aspect. Wider customer care of other road users and residents has also been well managed. Overall, Osborne is a company that I find easy to do business with. Stephen Edwards, Regional Performance Manager (West Midlands), Highways Agency
For more information contact civilengineering@osborne.co.uk