A380, an exemplary sustainable major infrastructure scheme

The award winning A380 link road was one of the largest and most complex highway schemes in the southwest of the UK, delivered by Ramboll, working as designer for contractors Galliford Try/SIAC, and Devon County Council and Torbay Council. This exemplary major public infrastructure project removed 95% of traffic from a village location, restoring and revitalising its tranquillity, and secured many awards for considerate and respectful community and environmental practices.

The scheme includes 5.5km of dual carriageway costing £110m. It includes 36 structures, nine major road bridges, flood alleviation culverts, several wildlife passages, and a 154-metre flyover, which accommodates existing rail infrastructure and improves conditions for local road users, cyclists and pedestrians. It was delivered on time, on budget, and with excellent environmental credentials. It is expected to bring lasting economic benefits, including the creation of nearly 8,000 jobs in the region.

A key sustainability objective for the scheme was to re-use onsite materials as much as possible, which also reduced lorry movements and waste from the site. A large proportion of local material, which was initially thought unusable, were examined, tested and subsequently confirmed useful for a range applications. This resulted in:

• The re-use of 1.5million cubic metres of material and excavated rock
• The elimination of 17,800 lorry movements, saving 30,000 HGV miles and 43.9 tonnes of CO2 emissions

The scheme includes several crossings for mammals, fish and reptiles. One of the badger routes includes flood protection and a special crossing surface to secure safe passage, and a 100-metre long upstream fish passage with several resting spots, was designed with natural materials and stones to provide variable flow conditions. Site ecologists also developed a reptile refuge, creating a habitat that will benefit a range of species, and which features re-used material from the site.

The team exceeded normal industry measures and went above and beyond industry best practice, securing many awards, including, the Green Apple gold award for Environmental Best Practice in the Waste Management category. Considerate Constructors Awards gold status, for showing respect to the community and the environment for three consecutive years during the project’s construction and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation South West award winner for Large Transportation Project.