Integrated Works Programme Information
The linked spreadsheets contain up to date information on Northamptonshire Highways' Integrated Works Programme (IWP). This shows schemes work only, and does not include minor works like routine potholing. To find works within your own part of the County, you can filter by Borough or District in Column B. To find works within your own Electoral Division, you can filter for your own ward in Column A. Please note that there are four worksheets within this spreadsheet:
- The first (with a purple tab) shows schemes completed last financial year.
- The second (with a blue tab) shows schemes completed so far this financial year.
- The third (green tab) shows works which will be on site over the next two weeks.
- The fourth worksheet (orange tab) shows works which are currently slated to be on site between two weeks and six three months from now. Dates and sites on this third spreadsheet will be liable to change, as in some cases we are currently awaiting confirmation of budgets.
In the Notes column, some schemes may be labelled "PROVISIONAL". This means they may be subject to budgetary or other constraints, and may not yet be completed within the current financial year.
Works can be rescheduled or delayed for a variety of reasons. Where this happens, we will try to reschedule a start date for as soon as is reasonably practicable. Examples of possible causes for delay are as follows:
Bad weather
Many of our operations are weather dependent, and extremes will affect the programme - too hot, too cold or too wet. Surface dressing is particularly susceptible. It can only be carried out in the period April to September as temperatures are too cool from Autumn to early Spring. However, it cannot take place if there is any standing water or there is any chance of rain on the day it is to be laid. Neither can it be laid in extreme heat.
Works by utilities
We try to co-ordinate planned works with utility companies, but sometimes they release programmes after we have published ours. Unless our works are of an urgent nature, most often sensible for us to start our works after the utility has finished, so that they do not dig up any finished surface we may have laid. Also, the utilities have emergencies of their own (burst mains, gas leaks) which can affect our programme.
Changes in priority rankings
A rapid deterioration in one site may mean it is pulled forward in the programme, thus delaying other sites.
Delays to prior sites
Many of our schemes form part of a subcontractor's individual programme. If one scheme finishes sooner or later than originally programmed, this will have a knock-on effect on all sites programmed to follow.
Insolvency or dismissal of subcontractors
Although rare, this happens from time to time. When it does happen, it is highly disruptive to the programme.
Highways England (HE) road space bookings
Sometimes, works and road closures on the County's network involve diversions onto Highways England's Motorway and Trunk Road network, and vice versa. We therefore have to compete with HE, neighbouring authorities and utilities for access to the HE network. HE works tend to take priority over other works, and may necessitate changes to our programme that we cannot avoid.
Stakeholder changes
For example: we may have a Safer Routes to School scheme in the programme. The school experiences a change of head teacher/governors, who no longer approve of the planned scheme. It may then be cancelled altogether, or be delayed due to needing to be redesigned.
Emergency Highways works
For example: when a bridge suffers significant collision damage and needs urgent remedial work, this may severely disrupt existing programmes, and can also have a large unplanned budgetary effect.
