PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Mersey Gateway
At a glance
Widnes, Cheshire, UK
Infrastructure
Contractor
£450m
NEC3 Subcontracts Option A, B and Supply Contract
Senior Quantity Surveyor
Location
Sector
Client Type
Project Value
Contract Type
Role
Project Overview
John joined the £450m Mersey Gateway project during delivery as a Senior Quantity Surveyor. The wider scheme centred on construction of a new six-lane cable-stayed bridge across the River Mersey, together with significant modifications to the surrounding road network and associated highway structures. The role covered a number of civil engineering subcontract packages under NEC3 Option A, Option B and Supply Order contracts.
Challenges
A number of live subcontract packages had developing commercial and contractual issues. One involved precast portal structures spanning a freight railway. Delayed installation had resulted in substantial claims for prolongation, loss of opportunity and storage. The immediate requirement was to establish the contractual position, assess the potential exposure and identify the most commercially appropriate way forward.
Contribution
John reviewed the subcontractor’s entitlement and assessed the available options, including bringing the units to site, accepting the proposed storage costs or challenging entitlement and negotiating continued off-site storage. The assessment considered craneage, handling, security, manufacturing sequence, storage arrangements, potential damage and comparable market rates. The role also included reviewing compliance with the Works Information and preparing a detailed position paper to support negotiations. More widely, John administered payments, compensation events, early warnings and defects across the packages and undertook regular cost forecasting and cost value reconciliation (CVR).
Results
Detailed entitlement and quantum analysis supported a negotiated commercial settlement approximately £500,000 below the original value of the compensation-event submissions. The wider role also helped resolve other contentious subcontract accounts through structured assessment and commercial negotiation.