M1 Junction 33 Rotherham MSA

Bethell was appointed by Welcome Break to enhance access and egress to be adopted by Rotherham Council at their M1 Junction 33 Rotherham MSA. The scope was later increased to include associated signage improvements on the Strategic Road Network (SRN).

Bethell's role extended from Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) to project completion, with delivery focused on collaborative design and buildability solutions under a Right First-Time approach. The works were completed under a project S278 agreement with Rotherham Council and a supplementary S278 agreement with National Highways.

The primary challenge of the project was access to remote land confined by the A640 and M1 road networks, requiring increased sensitivity around lane capacity and temporary traffic management.

The scope of works for this project is as follows:

  • 10,130m3 of Imported Fill
  • 4,100 Tonnes of Asphalt
  • 743 meters of PCC Kerbing
  • 1,000m of Road Restraint Barrier
  • 2 Traffic Signal Mast Arms
  • Full Traffic Signalisation (MOVA System)
  • 1,200m of Surface Water Drainage
  • 23 Street Lights

Early Contractor Involvement (ECI): Our ECI input was crucial to securing a signed S278 agreement between all parties, allowing road space permitting and removing the requirement for expensive statutory apparatus diversions. In addition, Bethell identified alternative points of connection for the electricity supply to the site and EV facilities, mitigating the need for undertrack crossings and extensive infrastructure.

Further efficiency gains included:

Design and Buildability Proposals: Bethell worked closely with Welcome Break's internal contractor and external stakeholders to refine the project design and ensure buildability. We worked simultaneously across the site to bring the opening date forward by 6-weeks.

Stakeholder Engagement: Close coordination allowed Bethell to gain an intimate understanding of the stakeholders' objectives, allowing Bethell to ensure project goals were aligned. Bethell fostered confidence with National Highways, Rotherham Council and Sheffield Council, guaranteeing the protection of their networks by ensuring traffic management planning considered all stakeholder impacts.

Phased Delivery and Traffic Management: The work was executed in phases across three discreet locations, providing continuous site access and minimal disruption to the SRN.

Our strategy to achieve this included:

Temporary Traffic Management (TTM): TTM was carefully scheduled and fully approved by National Highways to limit the impact to the SRN, only installing TTM on a “Just in Time” requirement working within existing containment.

Smart Motorway Alliance (SMA): The work location required us to interface with the SMA. We implemented a seamless coordination operation with ongoing SMA works, ensuring that neither work would be hindered by the other as we progressed. This extended to the sharing of TTM during times of Signage installation whist also coordinating with the regional M&R contractor to aid routine maintenance.

Vehicle Recovery Support: During the TTM we provided 24/7 HGV/LGV recovery support to maintain both traffic flow and safety considerations, ensuring optimal flow of peak traffic at all times, and especially in time of incident.

Bethell proposed value engineering solutions during the optioneering process, including alternative design proposals to remove two sheet piled walls required to protect NIRTS infrastructure. As a result, Bethell assisted a cost saving of circa £800k in project costs and removed an ongoing maintenance need for the client, as the structure would be adopted by National Highways. An alternative design proposal meant the area was unaffected and the requirements for the intrusive pile installation were removed.

Project Outcome: Despite the addition of extra works expanding our scope, we successfully delivered the project within the original 38-week timeframe.

Our collaborative approach with both Rotherham Council, Welcome Break and local stakeholders ensured:

  • An efficient phased delivery with minimal disruption to the SRN and a timely completion of each phase.
  • Enhanced road safety with improved access and egress, updated signage, and new traffic signal system.
  • Significant cost efficiencies were gained through innovative value engineering input.
  • Real time awareness of project performance through the sharing of data from our award winning CDE, with truly digital operation supported throughout.

The completion of this project exemplifies our ability to manage complex infrastructure improvements within tight schedules and budgets whilst maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.

CIHT 2024 Yorkshire & The Humber Awards - Best Small Highways and Transportation Project Award

The M1 Junction 33 Rotherham MSA scheme was presented with the Best Small Highways and Transportation Project Award at this year’s CIHT Yorkshire & the Humber Awards!

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