Smith Street Car Park - Repair Works to Retaining Wall

Following an award (via an exemption due to extreme urgency) for works to re-build a retaining wall that supports Smith Street Car park above the River Roch, issues with ground water were encountered once excavations reached the required depths which hadn't been identified during the previous ground investigations. These issues caused the ground at foundation depth to be weaker than required and resulted in the work on site being stopped whilst an alternative design was determined. The delays to the scheme and changes to the design to rectify these issues increased the contract value.

Alongside the price increase of the original contract, further works were identified following the commencement of the work, access to the remainder of the wall became accessible and it became apparent that this section of wall was also in poor condition, leaning into the river and bulging in localised areas.

The works for the additional works uncovered by the ground water issues and identification of the issues with a further section of the wall after removal of the initially instructed 30m length of retaining wall, a second exemption was carried out, due to extreme urgency so the contractor currently on site could encompass these additional works into the work they were already carrying out.