Parkstone West (Harwich International Port) Level Crossings Year 2 Crossing Upgrade Framework

Client: Colas Rail

Approximate value: £205k – £215k

Start date and duration: January – March 2021

Description of the works (Scope):

BPH Rail & Civil Engineering were awarded Parkstone West level crossing renewals as part of the year 2 Anglia level crossing upgrade framework.

As part of the scope of the renewal works BPH Rail & Civil Engineering had to undertake the upgrade of the level crossing approaches on both sides of the level crossing. This involved viewing existing service drawings at planning stage ahead of breaking out the existing tarmac surface up to the stop line. We then installed new sub-bases and laid new tarmac.

Once the resurfacing of the tarmac was completed the renewal of existing road marking including the white lining and yellow hatching was completed.

The level crossing is a 3-track level crossing which was renewed over multiple weekends to accommodate the client’s rail and track renewals. With Harwich International Port being such as busy gateway to Europe, BPH Rail & Civil Engineering was under very tight time scales each weekend in order to reopen the level crossing for the port traffic on time. Due to the time of year, we were also constantly working against heavy wintery conditions every weekend.

On multiple weekends when we were carrying out the crossing renewal works on one line, the previously installed crossing would have to be lifted for follow up tamping works.

Due to the huge volume of heavy goods vehicles using the level crossing daily, and the shear weight of the container lorries, it puts an enormous strain onto the old level crossing and highway surface areas.

The scope of works, once the level crossing was completed, required the road and footpath surfaces to be renewed up to the stop line each side of the crossing.

• Port side 12.5m long x 10.3m wide x 150mm deep.
• Bay side 8.5m long x 9m wide x 150mm deep.

In addition to the tarmac, we had to install 150mm deep ST2 concrete as a Subbase layer for additional strength.

It was very important due to the location of Parkstone West Level Crossing that the road and crossing markings were reinstated correctly, including the stop lines and junction box hatching, as warnings for the constant flow of heavy traffic.

The hatching was very complex as it spanned a large distance over the 3-track level crossing and highway surfaces.

All works were completed within the timescales with no snag items reported.