Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd

A421 Improvements M1 J13 to Bedford

The strategic link between the M1 and the A1

The A421 is part of the important east-west (Oxford - Milton Keynes - Bedford - Cambridge) route corridor. It lies within the Marston Vale, an area designated by the Bedfordshire Structure Plan as both a strategic growth corridor and an area in need of economic and environmental regeneration.

The existing A421 between the M1 and Bedford Southern Bypass is largely single carriageway with a short length of dual carriageway at Marston Moretaine. Traffic flows are expected to rise from approximately 25,000 to 65,000 vehicles per day by 2026. The high traffic flows result in severe congestion, unreliable journey times, a poor accident record and a reduction in the quality of life for local residents. The Highways Agency awarded Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering the ECI contract in November 2005. Construction began in October 2008.

Programme predictability

As ECI contractor, we examine local constraints in relation to construction best practice, best value and "buildability". Constraints are balanced against programme targets. We bring our knowledge and expertise to this balance, to plan construction within programme and cost targets.

ECI contribution to design improvements and completion of statutory processes

A prime objective for the Highways Agency is to minimise the need for a Public Inquiry and to identify and resolve potential objections as early as A421 Improvements M1 J13 to Bedford possible. This has the effect of reducing the duration of the Inquiry, thereby reducing the overall timescale of the statutory process, leading to associated cost savings. Further benefits of ECI to this scheme include:

• comprehensive consultation within the local communities, the statutory bodies and a wide range of commercial, industrial and leisure organisations
• consultation with other local housing and highway development agencies
• improved design to reduce congestion at M1 Junction 13
• confidence arising from contractor instigated ground investigation and survey information
• improved understanding of local sensitivities to the construction process

Back to selection