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The site is located within the former Lanarkshire Steelworks Site and the southwestern zone of the former Ravenscraig Steelwork Site, which are located to the west of the recently constructed “spine road”.
The works involved the formation of three earthworks platforms and a road corridor to prepare the site for built development. The scheme involved cut / fill works of approximately 1,250,000m3 and was undertaken in three phases:
Phase 1 21 weeks May to September 2004 (including a two week review period)
Phase 2 25 Weeks October 2004 to March 2005 (including a two week review period)
Phase 3 27 Weeks April to September 2005
A main objective of the contract was to use all of the existing soil materials to achieve the desired ground profile, without importing or exporting materials. These materials were placed within the platforms in thin layers and compacted. Tests were undertaken throughout the process in order to determine the moisture and compaction properties of the fill materials and ensure that the contract specification was achieved.
A high proportion of the materials were weak clays and it was a requirement of the contract that these materials are used in the structural fills and at the same time comply with standard specifications. This was achieved by a number of methods; for example by blending with drier site-won granular materials to reduce the moisture content of the cohesive material.
During the earthworks demolition was required when partially demolished structures were encountered within existing stockpiles. This involved the use of hydraulic breakers to remove heavily reinforced concrete whilst also controlling and removing oil-contaminated materials
Also included were works to remove redundant sections of the Todhole Culvert and other redundant sewers / pipelines within the site and replace with a new (temporary) surface water drainage system.
Close attention was paid to the environmental impact that the new works were having, particularly to the Calder Water, and appropriate measures taken to mitigate if not eliminate impacts. This included the local wildlife population, notably a badger colony with works being scheduled around their movements.
In addition to the site works the contract also included a Project Charter. As part of this charter I & H Brown Ltd provided full time employment to fifteen people from the local area.
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