Roundabout reconfiguration, Crags Brow, Windermere

Detailed traffic and pedestrian management and good communication with residents and businesses ensured completion 2 weeks early.

The project scope

The scheme involved the reconfiguration of the roundabout and exit routes on the busy Crags Brow in ‘Bowness on Windermere’ town centre, which is the busiest tourist town in the Lake District.  

The project involved the reconfiguration of the main roundabout and 4 exit routes connecting Bowness to the nearby lakeside marina, Windermere town and Ambleside. This required detailed construction phasing, traffic and pedestrian management and close liaison with residents and businesses. The scope of work included:

• Installation of a new surface water catch pit and drainage system
• 4 new gullies and connection to existing surface water chamber
• Construction of retaining wall foundations and a new retaining wall using Burlington slate
• Realignment of approach roads to accommodate the 4 new pedestrian crossings
• Construction of 2 new pedestrian islands
• Alteration of road camber to better accommodate HGVs and coaches
• Widening of 2 footpaths to improve pedestrian safety
• Careful removal and reuse of existing heritage sandstone kerbing
• Installation of tactile drop kerbs
• Planing out of existing surfacing
• New surfacing, white lining, and road markings

Challenges & successes

The project was constructed in the busiest part of Bowness on Windermere, which is the main vehicle and pedestrian thoroughfare in the town. Careful traffic and pedestrian management, combined with regular communication with residents and businesses ensured that the project ran smoothly. To minimise disruption, we carried out all surfacing works over 5 consecutive nights to complete the project 2 weeks earlier than planned.

Throughout the project, we encountered very shallow buried services, with gas and water mains lying only 200mm beneath the surface. To overcome this challenge and to avoid damaging any services, we dug trial holes and slit trenches and used CAT scanners to locate as many services as possible before excavation. Additionally, the design was changed during the project to allow access to the lakeside boat yard by low loaders. We accommodated this change and helped to develop drop kerb solutions to ensure the project was still delivered early.