Agenda item

[Report of the Director for Environment and Neighbourhoods. To  be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment.]

Agreement to award of Contract for Station Road Bridge Replacement Works scheme following a competitive procurement process. The scheme forms part of the council's Sustainable Transport Works Plan (STWP) for 2018/19. The scheme is currently at tender stage (estimated value of works around £900k).

The Cabinet Member for Environment introduced this report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to award a contract to enable the bidder to replace the existing bridge structure in Station Road over the New River, N22.

The Cabinet member noted the existing bridge was in need of replacing and had become a potential hazard. The bridge had an important strategic location and was on the route of the W3 bus. Cabinet were assured the scheme would be fully funded by Transport for London via the London Bridges Engineering Group.

Following questions from Cllr Bull, the following was noted:

• The Cabinet Member accepted there would be some disruption whilst the bridge was out of action but, having consulted with Arriva, there would be no diversion to the W3 route.
• The bridge could be dismantled in parts and for one half of the bridge to be worked on whilst the other remained in use. This would minimise the level of disruption caused

Further to considering the exempt information at item 21,

RESOLVED

1             To approve the award of a contract for the "Station Road Bridge Replacement Works" to Bidder 1 in the sum of £1,022,403.34 + VAT as permitted under Contracting Standing Order (CSO) 9.07.01(d).

2             To authorise Haringey’s Legal Department to issue a letter of intent (LOI) for the amount of up to and not exceeding £100,000 or 10% of the total contract price, whichever  is the higher value as stated under CSO 9.07.3

Reasons for decision

Officers have undertaken a competitive tendering exercise to secure a contractor to deliver the "Station Road Bridge Replacement Works". Through this process Bidder 1 have scored the highest and have demonstrated that they should be awarded the contract.

By awarding the contract to Bidder 1, the Council is securing the delivery of the "Station Road Bridge Replacement Works". It is the council’s intention for the works to be conducted between March 2019 and November 2019.

The scheme is fully funded by TfL via the London Bridges Engineering Group (LoBEG). This includes all the staff costs, design and statutory undertakers diversions which has been carried out ahead of the main works to minimise the risks.

The works delivered by the scheme are essential to replace the existing bridge that has passed its design life. The works will also result in the removal of weight restrictions over the bridge as well as minimise maintenance costs in the long term.

As part of the scheme delivery, the existing zebra crossing will be upgraded to incorporate cycle crossing facilities as well as the southern footpath to be widened and change it to shared use (pedestrians and cyclists). These measures will form part of the "Quiet Ways" cycle improvements across the borough to improve cycling and  is fully supported by TfL.

The new bridge will also create a better environment for walking by removing the existing "Crash kerbs or Trief Kerbs" and rails located on both sides of the existing bridge. This is important for this busy route for pedestrians and which is frequently used by school children for the nearby schools.

A number of statutory undertakers (stats) diversions have taken place to date to prepare for the bridge works and to minimise the risks to the scheme. Stats works done to date: UKPower Network for High Voltage Electricity; British Telecom and Thames Water.

Station Road connects Alexandra Palace to Wood Green, and two high-frequency bus routes are operating on this section. The new bridge will ensure long term reliability of the network.

Alternative options considered

Officers have considered not awarding the contract. However, this option was  rejected as Officers have followed a due process and the preferred contractor has demonstrated that they can deliver the works and have been awarded the highest score.

It is also the case that there is insufficient time to retender the works. This is because the current commitment by LoBEG to fund the scheme could be withdrawn if insufficient progress is demonstrated.