The brief
Thomson Habitats worked with our client, a Costain-Galliford Try Joint Venture, on the M1 J19 to J16 Smart Motorway in Northamptonshire. The smart motorway programme is a £65m scheme and is part of Highways England’s Collaborative Delivery Framework. The works focussed on increasing capacity on the M1 between J16 and 19 and will allow traffic to use the hard shoulder.
What we did
Our habitats team worked closely with the ecologists and Costain-Galliford Try to deliver the great crested newt mitigation works. As part of our works we:
- Cleared 4.5km of trees, scrub and shrubs to facilitate the installation of great crested newt fencing
- Supplied and installed 4.5km temporary great crested newt fencing
- Installed approximately 400 pitfall traps and 450 carpet tiles
- Provided ecological watching briefs for the above
- Carried out a 25 day great crested newt trapping and translocation exercise
- Constructed 30 log piles and eight brick hibernacula
- Provided client access to our award-winning bespoke GIS project management software – TIM (Thomson Interactive Mapping).
The outcome
Despite numerous logistical difficulties, challenging terrain and working adjacent to an active motorway, we were able to complete the works to programme and to a high quality.
Sectors
Client
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Costain-Galliford Try
Location
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Northamptonshire
Services offered
Thomson have proven to be highly valuable on this scheme. Despite the difficulties of the ground, tight programme and access issues, Thomson have completed the works to a high standard, and have maintained the highest levels of professionalism. Their TIM software has proven to be of huge assistance, and clearly sets them apart from their competitors. I would not hesitate to use them again.
”
Darren Thorn, Senior Agent, Costain, M1 J16-J19
