Covid-19: Site works on the Lower Thames Crossing

31 March 2020

Highways England takes the health and wellbeing of the public and our staff extremely seriously. We are fully supporting the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in following their policy that construction activity should continue where it can be undertaken in accordance with the Public Health England and industry guidance. The construction industry has also developed and issued Site Operating Procedures that have been reviewed by Public Health England. This guidance provides consistent measures on sites of all sizes in line with the Government’s recommendations.

Highways England has reviewed our site works on the Lower Thames Crossing project and has considerably reduced current works to essential survey and investigation work only. A number of our activities across the route have been postponed whilst we undertake reviews on how they can be carried out in full compliance with the guidance and recommendations available. Some work, for example our Archaeological and Utilities Trial Trenching surveys, is continuing in accordance with method statements that are in full compliance with all current guidance.

We are aware this is a rapidly changing picture and we will continue to follow and implement Government guidance as and when it is updated.

What work are we doing?

Our contractors are currently working on our most critical survey work needed to inform our application for the Development Consent Order and design development. This includes Archaeological Trial Trenching, Utilities Trial Trenching and further ground investigation. We will ensure we are working in the safest way possible observing the latest Government guidance.

What measures are we taking?

• Any worker displaying symptoms of Covid-19 should stay at home and any worker who develops symptoms while on site must return home immediately and report this to their line manager.
• No work can be undertaken without a full, specific Covid-19 risk assessment being undertaken in line with Government guidance, and operating procedures suggested by the Construction Leadership Council.
• Daily briefings and updates on Covid-19 guidance to on site teams
• Deployment of dedicated site foremen to supervise staff conduct in maintaining health and safety procedures and complying to regulations

For further information contact us at ltc@highwaysengland.co.uk or by calling 0300 123 5000.

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