Borough of Poole has appointed a contractor to carry out significant improvement works at Gravel Hill, as part of the major investment in Poole’s infrastructure by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.
Mildren Construction, one of the South’s leading construction and civil engineering firms, has been awarded the contract which will improve access to the Port of Poole and town centre and boost economic growth.
Gravel Hill will be closed to traffic from Sunday 24 July 2016 for a four month period enabling the contractor to carry out major works to strengthen the embankment, widen the footway to create a shared footway/cycleway and repair the culvert that goes underneath Gravel Hill.
The Council’s in-house Streetscene Team have been appointed to carry out the improvements to the Gravel Hill and Queen Ann Drive junction and the majority of this work will be undertaken during the road closure to minimise disruption.
A route for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained along Gravel Hill throughout the period of closure. Some initial enabling works such as felling trees and improvements to the Magna Road diversion route have already started.
Julian McLaughlin, Head of Transportation Services, Borough of Poole, said: “We are pleased that Mildren Construction have been awarded this project as they are a well established local contractor with a strong track record in construction excellence. We are confident that Mildren Construction will deliver the works to the highest standard and to time.”
Cllr Drew Mellor, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Borough of Poole, said:
“These improvements are part of a much wider co-ordinated programme that will see the A31 to the Port of Poole benefit from significant investment over the next few years.”
Gordon Page, Chairman of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “It’s good to see that plans for Gravel Hill are progressing well. We’re looking forward to the start of a series of infrastructure projects all aimed at improving key transport routes into and around the Port of Poole. Together they will strengthen economic growth, enable housing and create jobs in the region.”
Chris Wingham, Managing Director for Mildren Construction, added: “As a Dorset based contractor we are delighted to have been appointed by Borough of Poole under the New Generation 3 Framework for the Gravel Hill Improvements Scheme. This is a significant project which will benefit our local supply chain and workforce. We are looking forward to a successful contract.”
Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership secured £23.3 million through the Dorset Growth Deal to invest into four major transport schemes to improve access into and around the Port of Poole. This initiative will help boost economic growth and bring an anticipated £500 million of leveraged private investment in to the area as well as creating up to 1500 new jobs and 3000 new homes.
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