Wrexham Council announce Newbridge repair contract awarded to Jones Bros Ltd

Wrexham Council have said they are “pleased” to announce that the procurement phase for Newbridge project has now successfully come to a close.

The stretch of road between Newbridge and Cefn Mawr has been closed since January 2021, when heavy downpours caused part of it to collapse down an embankment during Storm Christoph. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Council was awarded £2.8 million to carry out the vital repairs to the B5605 last year by Welsh Government, following complex geo-technical surveys and a cost analysis. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In February the local authority confirmed that it had appointed a geotechnical consultant, with a design for the road in place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​It is estimated that works would take approximately 52 weeks to complete. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In a statement this lunchtime they said, “Tenders have been received for the Design and Build Contract to repair the landslip on the B5445 at Gelli Wood, Newbridge and the tender evaluation process completed in line with the procurement process.

“The successful tenderer Jones Bros Ltd, has been awarded the contract and we have now completed the necessary other procurement processes. Further to the tender evaluation process and due processes being followed we are pleased to confirm that the contract has been awarded to Jones Bros Ltd.

“Officers together with our Consulting Engineers, Atkins Ltd, are now engaging and working closely with Jones Bros to develop and understand their planned works plan and programme that will allow repair work and associated accommodation works to finally get underway, and work towards the re-opening of the road.”

“We understand this process has required an extended period of disruption and frustration for local communities and the wider travelling public, however the complex engineering, ecological and contractual nature of this project has placed a unique challenge to ensure all processes and allocation of public monies are appropriately managed and the best outcome achieved.”

Councillor Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Environment said, “I am very pleased we have now finally awarded the contract for repair of the landslip to a local contracting firm namely Jones Bros Ltd.  I know officers and our teams are busy now working with the successful contractor as they put together the works team and develop their programme for the delivery of the repair.

“As the project develops now and we understand the programme we will ensure a regular supply of updates and look forward to the road reopening”