Island company set for Undercliff work

John Peck Construction has been awarded the contract to carry out the first major road stability scheme at Niton’s Undercliff on the Isle of Wight.

This project is part of a major programme of special ‘geotechnical’ schemes being delivered by Island Roads under the highways PFI to maintain the highway at locations prone to ground movement.

The contract, worth in the region of £1 million, is one of the largest ground stability/highway projects secured by Rookley-based John Peck Construction, on the Isle of Wight.

The work at the Undercliff, where the underlying clay foundations have caused frequent and historic issues of movement, will be undertaken at three sections.  In the vicinity of Undercliff Caravan Park and Woodlands, the highway will be anchored by 25 metre steel cables driven through the clay layers into a more substantial layer of rock.  At a section above Hunts Road, more than 112 ten metre concrete piles will be inserted into the ground to strengthen the highway.  This operation involves the use of specialist equipment which seeks to adopt a quieter method of installation of the piles and limit the need for lengthy road closures.

The Undercliff scheme was originally scheduled for 2015 and was brought forward after on-going monitoring revealed greater than expected recent movement.

Island Roads Service Director Paul Herbert, said: “A key objective of the PFI is to benefit the local economy and this is a clear demonstration of the opportunities available to Island businesses.”

John Peck, director of John Peck Construction, said: “The Undercliff is one of the best known roads on the Island and we are delighted to be at the heart of the scheme to stabilise such an important part of the network.”

Pictured from left to right: Isle of Wight councillor and cabinet member responsible for the PFI Jon Gilbey, scheme engineer Kieron Blamey and John Peck, director of John Peck Construction at the Undercliff.