Motor Industry Research Agency LIF 1

Fitzgerald Contractors were appointed as principal contractor to undertake the design and build highways and infrastructure scheme for the new LIF 1 works on behalf of MIRA.

The works comprised of the design and construction of a new infrastructure network to upgrade the existing site access and construction of a new spine road. It also involved the integration of the new works to accommodate future expansion of the existing research facility including new utility infrastructure, construction of 8,000m2 of new access roads, and construction of a 4200m2 car park.

The scheme design needed to reflect the nature of the research facility from the point of access and create an environment of both innovation and excellence. This contract award marked a return to the MIRA facility for Fitzgerald, following the successful completion of the innovITS ‘Inner City Test Facility’ two years previously.  We undertook early engagement with MIRA to fully understand design solutions and working environment, gain client confidence and provide constructability advice, much of this centred upon their key contract drivers, maintaining utility services, the safety of all road users and pedestrians, maintaining unimpeded traffic flows into the campus and ensuring security was maintained.

The works involved a significant earthworks operation with cut and fill of 22,000m3 of material. Our strategy involved main deposition areas being engineered for future building development and also levelled and top-soiled, so that it could be returned to agricultural use until that time. This was followed by installation of new drainage which included a large attenuation tank with a volume of 2000m3.

For the road construction the Fitzgerald team installed kerbs, formed footways and installed ducting. The surfacing was carried out in phases to maintain access to all the on-site facilities, and was followed by the finishing operations of lighting, signs and road marking.  The works also involved the construction of a 30m long newt tunnel. The final works carried out was landscaping which included turfing to verges to give instant impact.