Project Update: Pershore Road Highway Safety Improvement Scheme, Birmingham
Fitzgerald continues to make excellent progress at our Pershore Road project in Birmingham where the company are undertaking civil engineering works to improve the overall safety and efficiency of the A38 and A441 junction, and to provide enhanced pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
Fitzgerald were appointed by Birmingham City Council as principal contractor for the £2.1 million scheme to undertake the construction of crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists on all arms of the junction, and to increase capacity through carriageway and cycle lane widening. The project is being carried out in a highly trafficked live environment which is one of the largest uncontrolled junctions in Birmingham. We have deployed extensive pedestrian and vehicular traffic management to maintain safe crossing points during the construction phase, and throughout the 33-week contract the team have undertaken extensive liaison and coordination of works with multiple stakeholder groups.
Planned construction activities during May includes preparatory works for carriageway and footway surfacing which will take place under night-time closures to mitigate disruption, and we are on-schedule to open Priory Road footpath and cycleway to the public. Social value has been an integral part of the scheme’s delivery and we are proud that 90% of our workforce is local to the scheme, which includes two Groundworker Apprentices, Quantity surveyor, Engineer and Plant Operative. Fitzgerald have also partnered with Sustrans, a charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle and promote a healthy lifestyle and have welcomed students to visit the site and learn about careers in construction.