Hi everyone

Please find below the latest update on progress for the Marden Quarry scheme up to Friday, 20 May, 2016.

Burnside Road

Installation works to the 525mm dia. pipes is progressing well, with backfilling works following closely behind (photo attached). additional gulleys have been installed to the junctions with St George's Road and Plessey Crescent. It is hoped that we will be in a position to carry out tarmac reinstatements to the eastern end of this section by the end of next week so that Burnside Road can be opened to traffic to the west of Plessey Crescent.

Marden Road South/Broadway

The tunnelling machine was placed in the drive pit earlier in the week and tunnel boring operations commenced on Thursday. Progress has been good for the first 2 days of tunnelling with the rate of driving being slightly in excess of that planned (7.5 metres /day). The cutting head on the machine (photo attached) is pulverising the limestone without any excess effort.

Marden Quarry

We excavated a pit to receive the tunnelling machine inside the confines of the quarry walls. This will allow removal of the tunnelling machine once we reach the pit ( hopefully by the end of next week ). See photo of reception pit excavation.

Have a nice weekend

Geoff

PS Please be aware that Northern Gas Networks are planning to commence mains diversion works to the junction of Burnside Road and Broadway on Monday 20 June, 2016. However if all goes well on their other schemes this work may be brought forward by a week (commences 13 June, 2016). This work is wholly independent of the NWG works but thought you may wish to know in advance as some disruption will undoubtedly occur.

Hi

Just an update on our poster competition involving the children of Cullercoats Primary School.

We have had confirmation that the posters are ready to collect on Friday.  Once these are collected we will be judging on site and choosing three winners.

Our site team are very excited about this, as our fencing is looking extremely green and would benefit from some new safety posters :-)

I will keep you all updated

Christine

Marden Quarry & Briar Vale Surface Water Separation

Hi all,

An update of this weeks work.

Marden Road South

The concrete base to the shaft has now been installed, and we are currently installing and setting up the heavy plant/equipment with the 50 ton crawler crane in preparation for the underground tunneling operations.

North View/Burnside Road

This week we have completed the new drainage network through under the Nexus Metro bridge and tarmac reinstatements.

Next week following a letter drop to customers, we are relocating our fencing/works area as part of our rolling road closure, further up Burnside Road for phase 2 which is a continuation of the installation of the new drainage network.

We apologize to all customers affected prior to the works commencing for any disruption, and thank you all for your patience as we continue with the project.

Have attached a few photos for you to view.

Have nice weekend

Steve.

Hi everyone,

This weeks update as follows:-

Marden Road South

Shaft work this week has progressed quite well although still dealing with ground water ingress and breaking out rock , today we have reached full depth and preparing to install the actual concrete base in readiness for next week to start the set up for the underground tunneling works.

We have also gained access to the rear of the local scout hut grassed area where we are preparing the area ready to excavate the actual reception pit for the above mentioned tunneling works.

There will next week be some large deliveries to site in the form of a 50 tone crawler crane and the associated plant and equipment for the tunneling works

North View/Burnside Road

This week we have continued under the Nexus Metro bridge onto Burnside Road installing the new drainage network and constructing new manhole chambers, we have also carried out some reinstatement works of the new footpath under the bridge and some further temporary tarmac reinstatements to the highway, works will continue next week.

Please be advised that our works are progressing now on Burnside Road and will within a short period of a week or so we will be looking to relocate our rolling road closure works further up Burnside Road, prior to relocating we will be issuing a letter to advise residents as to the extent of the proposed works area.

Have a nice weekend

Steve.

Marden Quarry & Briar Vale Separation

Hi everyone,

This weeks update as follows:-

Marden Road South

We have continued this week with the shaft sinking operations, but during the course of the week have endured some awful weather conditions as well as continued bad ground conditions which has again slowed our anticipated production/progress.

We have now achieved a depth of seven meters, and installed the seventh segmental ring, and are to grout them up today.

(See attached photos and short video)

Next week we shall continue to excavate and break out the rock to install the last eighth ring followed by the installation of the concrete base prior to under ground tunneling works commencing.

Please be advised, we have been notified by North Tyneside Council of some upgrade works to be carried out by Northern Gas Networks in the near future (July 16) on Marden Road South & into the junction of Burnside Road and we would like you to be aware that these works do not form part of the Marden Quarry & Briar Vale scheme.

North View/Burnside Road

We have this week progressed very well with the excavation and installation of the plastic drainage under the existing Metro Bridge from North View onto Burnside Road, this work was carried out with a watch and brief from a Nexus Rail Supervisor, whom has commented on our professional manner and work method whilst carrying out the works.

(See attached photos)

Have a nice bank holiday weekend.

Steve.

Hi everyone,

Today my colleague Clare and I visited the junior school children at Cullercoats Primary School to give an overview of Health and Safety (Stay Safe Campaign) near to our sites.  The staff and children made us feel very welcome and were keen to help us make the site safer.  We have set the children a challenge to design three safety posters for our fencing.

They have two weeks to design and create their posters before I collect them to choose the winning designs, we look forward to seeing them all.  We are sure they will all be fantastic!

Thank you to Mr Storey, staff and pupils for making us both feel so welcome.

See you all very soon.

Christine

Marden Quarry & Briar Vale Separation

Hi all,

This weeks update as follows:-

Marden Road South 

Shaft sinking -operations have continued this week although being slower than anticipated due to existing ground conditions, we have encoutered fill/made up ground whilst installing the shaft rings and trying to grout them up, we have to date installed 5 complete rings and eventually grouted the annulus behind them, we are now excavating/installing the sixth ring, and works will continue into next week with further excavation to install a total of eight rings and the concrete base. (See attached photos & video of the works)

North View/Burnside Road

Our drainage works have continued up to the existing Metro Bridge this week and we are tarmac reinstating as much as we possibly can behind our works to open up the highways as we go, next week we are to excavate and install the new drainage network under the bridge within the footpath and adjacent to the bridge north abutment with a Nexus supervisor under a watch and brief.

Have a nice weekend

Steve,

Hi everyone

Please find this week's update below:

Marden Road South

Shaft-sinking operations continued throughout the week. Progress has been slower than hoped due to the discovery of an uncharted underground pipe (which proved to be abandoned) and to ground conditions which were more challenging than expected. 4 shaft rings have been constructed and grouting operations continue to make the shaft watertight.

North View/Burnside Road

Pipelaying activities continued in North View just east of the Metro bridge.

Water main diversions have been tested and final connections were made on Friday. These works will continue next week.

Have a nice weekend.

Geoff

Marden Quarry & Briar Vale Separation

Hi everyone,

This weeks update as follows:-

Marden Road South

This week we have been excavating and constructing the top section of the new 5.0 meter diameter shaft including the concrete collar see attached photographs, this is in preparation for next week to start and sink the shaft to our required depth which will be pprox 9.0 mtrs deep. Following the completion of the shaft the under ground  tunnelling works will then commence.

North View

Our drainage works on this the section are progressing quite well, we are working towards the Metro bridge area on North View with plans to install the new drainage network under the bridge and on to Burnside Road.

The works up to and under the bridge are quite confined and congested with lots of existing underground services, we also have to carry out the installation of the new drainage network with height restrictions in place in particular under the bridge itself, the work will be carried out under a watch and brief of a Nexus rail supervisor.

Will keep you updated next week, and hope you all have a nice weekend.

Steve.

Hi, everyone.

Please find below a summary of progress for the week (w/e Friday, 1 April, 2016)

Marden Road South

Final works have been carried out to prepare the compound area for shaft-sinking operations which are to commence next week.

North View

Works continued to install the 525mm diameter pipeline adjacent to Coble House nursing home. Work in this location has now been halted while resurfacing works are carried out to the carriageway. This will allow us to move the road closure west of the access entrance to the nursing home. The north end of Eleanor Street will be closed to through traffic but, Coble House will be accessed from John Street.

Have a great weekend.

Geoff