Hertfordshire County Council has identified GRAHAM as the preferred contractor for the A120 Little Hadham Bypass and Flood Alleviation Scheme.
GRAHAM has been notified that it has been successful in its bid and has been issued with a Letter of Intent. This allows the contractor to start preparation for the works by mobilising their team and addressing planning conditions, ready for a start of the main works on-site in summer 2019. Subject to final approvals the contract with GRAHAM is expected to be signed in April 2019.
Hertfordshire County Council and the Environment Agency have worked in partnership to develop the A120 Little Hadham Bypass and Flood Alleviation Scheme. As part of the planned bypass, new road embankments along the River Ash and Albury Tributary will act as flood defence to reduce the flood risk to the village.
Planning permission for the scheme, which will alleviate traffic congestion from The Ash traffic lights in Little Hadham, provide more reliable journey times and reduce flood risk, was granted in January 2017. The Bypass and Flood Alleviation scheme orders were confirmed by Government in October 2018.
Phil Bibby, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment at Hertfordshire County Council, said:
"We’re pleased to be working with GRAHAM to see the successful delivery of this important road scheme for Hertfordshire. The A120 is a vital link in Hertfordshire and with traffic on the county’s roads predicted to increase up to 20% over the next 15 years it’s important that we invest in improving the route. The bypass and flood alleviation scheme will help support the growth we’re expecting in the county while improving quality of life in the Little Hadham area.”
Darsha Gill, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for the Environment Agency, said:
“The Environment Agency welcomes the identification of a contractor to deliver the flood alleviation works within the bypass construction. We are pleased to be reducing flood risk within Little Hadham, and will continue to work closely with Hertfordshire County Council to achieve the outcomes identified for the project.”
Leo Martin, managing director for GRAHAM’s Civil Engineering division, said:
“We’re looking forward to beginning work with Hertfordshire County Council and the Environment Agency on this important highways regeneration scheme.
“The benefits of the scheme are very important to Little Hadham and we will be adopting a collaborative approach that will help us minimise disruption during construction works, to provide a bypass that will improve journey times and reduce congestion and flood risks in the area.”
“Our team is vastly experienced in completing complex highways projects throughout the UK and we expect to deliver a new bypass of the highest standard that residents in the area can be proud of.”
More information can be found on the project’s website www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/a120bypass
Information relating to the granted planning permission can be found on the Hertfordshire Planning Portal by searching for application reference PL\0744\15.