Case Study

Mill Street, Perth – Phase 1

Client: Perth & Kinross Council
Project Value: £1.5 million
Start Date: 30 weeks
Contract Duration: 30 weeks

Project Outline

Kilmac were appointed as main contractor by Perth & Kinross Council to carry out regeneration works to Mill Street, Perth. The condition of contract was NEC3 Option B.

The works consisted of the following;NEC3 Option B

  • Liaison with all affected parties – P&KC Council Offices, Perth Concert Hall, Perth Museum, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Next, Paco’s Restaurant, Premier Inn, Gillies, all other Businesses, Property owners and the Public
  • Removal of the existing Road and Footpaths, approximately 5900m2 and replacement with high quality granites and concrete slabs on Reinforced Concrete or Tar DBM base on proprietary bedding mortar and pointed with proprietary pointing mortar
  • Protection of the existing buildings façade’s whilst removing existing hard landscaping
  • Carriageway profile planning including cleaning, tack coats, regulating and resurfacing.
  • Carriageway overlay including cleaning, tack coats regulating and wearing course
  • Full tarmac surfacing to new car parks
  • Supply and installation of new granite kerbs
  • Installation of new parking bays in block paving on a new reinforced concrete base
  • Removal of the existing drainage system and replacement with new granite cover Channel drains and the installation of gullies and pipework with connection to the existing drainage system
  • Installation of New Street Lighting including all trackwork and ducting, with connections to the existing power system
  • The raising/lowering and replacement of existing utility covers to suit finished levels
  • Traffic management throughout the works
  • Safe management of pedestrians and other road users during the works including maintaining access and deliveries to all the Businesses above and properties
  • Supply and installation of street furniture including, bollards, planters, tree pits, bins, benches and cycle racks
  • Supply and installation of new traffic and pedestrian signage on new and existing poles, including as lit signs
  • New road markings

Project planning & Strategies:

Business & Public Liaison

Throughout this project, one of the most challenging factors was the constant liaison with the local business's and general public given the profile of the job.  Prior to commencing the works, a workshop was held in a local hotel which all local businesses were invited to.  At this workshop, Kilmac talked all parties through the works and associated phasing plan, complete with proposed programme dates.  Each phasing plan had its own associated traffic management plan which again was discussed in detail.  There was a Q&A session at the end of the workshop and there were booklets made up for every business which had copies of the phasing, programme dates and associated TM plans.  There were also contact details for all Kilmac personnel involved in the job. Prior to any phase commencing, we took the opportunity to meet every individual business to list their delivery and access requirements.  This then allowed us to try and accommodate them into our works where possible to keep disruption to a minimum.  We carried this out on every phase to ensure all parties were completely up to speed on the works and what TM was involved.  In addition to this, we held further workshops for all parties interested every 6-8 weeks in the same hotel to allow further Q&A sessions and also just update business's and locals on where we were with regards to programme and what the next phase of works involved.  At the end of every phase of works, we visited the business's involved to update them of the works and thank them for all their efforts and support throughout the works.

Traffic Management

A lot of time and effort was put into planning the works to ensure as simplistic approach as possible was taken to as to prevent confusion with pedestrians and traffic.  A full closure had to be set up initially to allow the main Plaza works, so we set up business specific signage around the closure to ensure pedestrians were fully aware of where to go with regards to the local shops.  These were checked on daily to ensure continued compliance.  When the closure was removed, we changed Mill Street to a one-way system to reduce traffic flow and road width, hence allowing ample working space on the paths.  We staggered the programme to the north and south paths so one path was always open and pedestrians could be easily diverted around the scope of works.  Updated site-specific signage was moved along with the works to keep pedestrians updated with new routes.  As noted above, all TM plans and routes were issued well in advance to all local businesses who in turn could then update their clients / deliveries throughout the works to minimise disruption and any potential for confusion.

NEC3 Contract

This project was an NEC3 option B compliant contract, so throughout the job, programme was critical.  We initially programmed it in line with NEC3 showing all float and TRA.  This programme was then updated on a monthly basis to show compensation events, associated knock on to critical path and hence any movement in completion.  It was then issued to the client for approval.  Compensation events were raised for all variations, and any potential delay / risk was raised as an early warning and rated on a traffic light system of red, amber or green depending on severity.  Every month, we met the client to run through the programme and early warning register to ensure everything was up to date and early warnings were being dealt with as efficiently as possible to ensure minimal delay to the contract where applicable.  This continued throughout the contract.

Environmental Protection Measures

Dust suppression control was carried out by use of water suppressions in controlled stone cutting areas. These areas were identified and were set up using temporary fencing and screening with all stone cutting activities taking place within.  The setting out of the hard landscaping was also taken into consideration to try and minimize the number of feature paving’s needing to be cut.  Concrete delivery vehicles washed out to a siltbuster device in order to control residual cement content and run off.

On the back of the above and our success in completing Phase 1, Kilmac were awarded the Hard Landscaping Projects for Mill Street Phase 2 and The Perth Theatre, which used all the same processes and materials as above.

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