The Northern Access Route is part of the enabling works for the Havant Thicket Reservoir.  Based on the footprint of an existing track it is now wide enough for HGVs. There is 390m of tarmac road and 1050m of  root protection make up using the Cellweb system which is good for 60t. There is an embankment built up in the cellweb system which took a bit of thinking about. It also involves drainage, new ditches, existing ditch re-alignment, bridleway. Its quite repetitive with a lot of processes but the guys doing the work worked out an efficient system and were able to make good progress.

Due to the nature of the job FW needed an engineer who was self sufficient which suits me. FW needed someone who could supply a robotic instrument, a gnss instrument, and a 4x4 vehicle - I even supply all my own orange PPE. Logistically without the 4x4 I wouldnt have been able to do this job. It has benefitted FW as well as they dont need to supply me with any instruments or any transport. Ive put up a number of plastic rotatable retro targets - which I have paid for so basically left to get on with it. Having a 4x4 has been a game changer. I couldnt have done this job with out it. The amount of profiles I have put up, Ive had a mini mobile workshop with enough stakes, boards, screws, cordless drill, spirit levels, spray paint etc. Its been good I've liked this one. I'd load the van up in the morning, make a flask and disappear for the day putting up profiles, then coming back to record as builts. Luckily the company has invested in instruments and a 4x4 which means I can tackle projects that many engineers would struggle with.

Once we had built the track we then built the site compound, so it was reduced level dig then drainage, car park make up, service road make up and the foundations for the project offices. I then transferred to Jones Bros (the other JV partner) on the earthworks which was mainly haul roads and testing, to help out until they appointed a permanent engineer.