Local construction specialist supplies one-millionth tonne of aggregates to A14 road improvement scheme
THROUGHOUT the 21-mile stretch of Highways England’s A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme, substantial progress is being made by the A14 Integrated Delivery Team (IDT), a joint venture between Costain, Skanska, Balfour Beatty and Atkins/Ch2M, and their supply chain partners.
Playing a key part in the project’s ongoing success are local construction specialists Mick George Ltd, who this week reached a major landmark in the project’s timeline, having supplied their one-millionth tonne of aggregates to the development.
Various configurations of limestone, gravel, sand, concrete and other blended or crushed materials, sourced from the company’s wholly owned quarry facilities in the region, are included in these figures.
Significantly, however, the statistics discount the continuous stream of concrete being delivered to the project, further reinforcing Mick George’s contribution to the highway upgrade works.
While the 1-million-tonne figure is impressive in itself, Mick George say the positive consequences it represents are of equal significance.
The figure equates to 51,625 lorry movements of imported materials, which was an important factor in the selection of a local company to fulfil the tender, as Mick George’s proximity to the scheme reduces the distances travelled, thereby decreasing carbon emissions.
Mick George Ltd have also received a further boost by virtue of their association with the project.
In a recent ‘360 Key Performance Indicator’ (KPI) review by senior representatives of the A14 Integrated Delivery Team (IDT), Mick George Ltd were accredited with a score of 86/100 for their concrete, aggregate and waste-management supply to the £1.5 billion scheme.
Cameron Bell, assistant supply chain manager for the IDT, said: ‘This is a great result and exceeds our expectations. This is Mick George’s best score on the project to date, so credit must go to the business and every member of the team involved.’
The score represents a significant increase in the level attained at the last appraisal and is around 11% above what would be expected by the project leads.
The project is now in full production across all six sections. The halfway point, marking two years in construction, will be this November and the scheme is on target for the new and improved Cambridge to Huntingdon route to open in December 2020.
Michael George, contracting director at Mick George, commented: ‘As a local business we are extremely privileged to have played such a pivotal role in the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme, which will inevitably leave a positive legacy in the area.’
‘It is fantastic that the A14 IDT, working on behalf of Highways England, recognizes the strategic benefits of utilizing local suppliers, adding long-term value and benefits to the wider local economy and communities.’
