Transport Scotland - Benderloch rock face works progress and cost information: EIR release

Information requested

With regards to the ongoing works in Benderloch being carried out by GeoRope and probably managed by BEAR.

I know they're now around a year past their original end date.

How much has been spent on the works so far?  How far over the original budget is it?

How frequently is someone from BEAR on site ensuring progress is as expected, checking that early warning notices for extra works/costs are justified, and querying down time?

And what is the expected end date?

Response

As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request underFOISA.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

Q1. You asked how much has been spent on the works so far and how far over the original budget is it?

A1. Transport Scotland's Operating Company, BEAR Scotland, advise that £1,954,409.81 has been spent to date on the original scope of works which involved the installation of active face support and drapery mesh systems across the sections of slope closest to the carriageway. (Panels 1 to 5). An increase of £663,730.60 from the initial tendered value.

Following further detailed inspections during the works which raised concerns about the stability of the northern section of the rock-slope (Panel 0 and -1) it was agreed that additional works would be carried out in this location.

The total construction cost for this additional scope of work (Panel 0 & -1) to date is £1,376,472.13. Construction costs associated with outstanding works at Blocks 0 & 3 are still to be confirmed.

Q2. You asked how frequently is someone from BEAR on site ensuring progress is as expected, checking that early warning notices for extra works/costs are justified, and querying down time?

A2. Site attendance is undertaken jointly by BEAR Scotland and geotechnical specialists from Jacobs to monitor progress and review any additional works or costs raised through Early Warning Notices, as well as queries related to downtime. BEAR Scotland attends site on a weekly basis, with Jacobs contributing specialist geotechnical input at agreed intervals when required.

Q3. You asked what is the expected end date.

A3. The expected end date for the works is Autumn 2026.

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