Purpose

Release £1.9m funding, increase the current released funding to £15.218m from £13.318m to allow the scheme to be delivered as planned.

Decision

To increase the current scheme budget for A4130 Steventon Lights from £13.318m to £15.218m by releasing £1.9m in funding to allow the scheme to be delivered as planned. £1.9m funding is via £1.5m from completed schemes associated with H&GD funding and £0.4m from council contingency or reallocated existing capital priorities.

Reasons for the decision

Additional funding is required to enable the scheme to be delivered as planned and designed, to ensure the scheme’s deliverables and aims are fulfilled.

The cost pressure was predominantly due to higher-than-expected traffic management and utility diversion costs, which included additional diversions of a high voltage electrical cable, telecommunications cables and a high-pressure gas main.

Due to the stage of the project and relative lateness of the issues being identified, there are now limited options to reduce impact on costs.

Alternative options considered

Options to reduce the scheme scope were explored but discounted due to the expensive utility diversions having already taken place. The option of not delivering the western bus lane and crossing were considered but would compromise the objectives of the scheme.