The Northampton North West Relief Road (NNWR) project, valued at £39.5 million, delivered 1.5 km of new carriageway for West Northamptonshire Council. This design and build scheme is a critical component of the long-term “Northampton North Orbital” plan, aimed at creating a bypass route around Northampton. Executed under the NEC4 Option C contract through the Midlands Highway Alliance Plus framework, Balfour Beatty Regional Civils served as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.
The NNWR project stands out for its strategic importance, innovative engineering solutions, and effective risk management, making it a deserving candidate for Infrastructure Project of the Year.
Three Winning Facts:
- Innovative Design Approach: The Regional Civils Design Management Team enhanced constructability by incorporating Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) input. Early acquisition of Network Rail permissions facilitated rapid design completion. An efficient earthworks strategy was developed, utilizing on-site materials testing and reducing hazardous waste disposal by amending road levels to retain coal tar in the existing pavement.
- Significant Infrastructure Development: The project features 1.5km of single-lane carriageway, a 0.4km causeway on embankments up to 12m high, two new roundabouts, and two major bridge, a 27m span bridge over a Network Rail line and a 22m span bridge over the River Nene. Additionally, four precast concrete box culverts and substantial site-won embankment fill highlight the extensive civil works.
- Proactive Risk Management: Key benefits included securing flood risk permits ahead of construction, early liaison ensuring programme certainty, and comprehensive utility diversions to streamline progress.
