Sub-contractor sacked for shoddy footpath work on multi-million-pound project
RESIDENTS RAISED COMPLAINTS OVER POOR QUALITY WORK
A Sub-contractor has been sacked after carrying out shoddy work as part of an ongoing multi-million -pound road improvement scheme.
It comes after complaints about the poor quality of finished footpaths by the unnamed firm on the Stoneferry Road Corridor project in east Hull.
It’s the latest in a series of problems on the site which continues to cause huge congestion during the working week.
Initial works on the project started in 2019 with the aim of reducing congestion and improving traffic flow at a series of junctions along the route between Bransholme and Cleveland Street.
Managed by the city council, it was originally awarded £7.5m by the now defunct Humber Local Enterprise Partnership to cover the cost of the works, which include road and pavement widening and resurfacing, new traffic light-controlled crossings for pedestrians and cyclists and 5.6km of new and refurbished cycle paths.
An additional £3.9m was allocated to the project earlier this year by the council’s cabinet after more serious carriageway faults were uncovered.
The anticipated timetable for the project has also slipped, partly because of the impact of the Covid19 pandemic on staffing and supply chains.
Having originally been scheduled for completion in the summer of 2020, the latest estimated finishing date for the full scheme is June next year.
The ongoing works along the route continue to cause major congestion both on Stoneferry Road and surrounding roads on most days.
The decision to remove the subcontractor was confirmed by transport portfolio holder Councillor Dean Kirk at a full council meeting.
He said he had recently met with residents who had raised concerns over some of the work carried out on the scheme, seeing some of the footpaths himself.
Cllr Kirk said he had subsequently aired their complaints in a meeting with officials from the project’s main contractor which was also attended by council leader Daren Hale.
He said: “I can tell the council the sub-contractor who carried out the defective work has been removed from the approved list of surfacing contractors on the Stoneferry Corridor project.
“This action prevents them from
undertaking surface work across the whole site.
“The remaining sub-contractor of choice will carry out all other remaining civil engineering works on the project.
“Before the new surfacing contractor can begin work to rectify the defects, they will have to go through a rigorous selection process proving experience, a proven track record of good quality work before they are taken on.”
The latest phases of work on the route include resurfacing work on Ferry Lane westbound from Stoneferry Road roundabout to Stoneferry Bridge.
On November 26 the Bandstand roundabout in Stoneferry Road will be closed to traffic for resurfacing from 7pm until 6am on November 29. A similar closure is also scheduled for the following weekend.