Case Studies

Croydon to Egham – 40km PIA Route for Colt

Due to our ever-expanding workforce and capabilities, we were awarded a 40km PIA Route on behalf of Colt, this was for Colt to be able to create an expansion link within their own Network, using BT Openreach Infrastructure, and spanning from Purley Way, Croydon to Staines Bypass in Egham.

This was issued to CA Telecom as a Full Turnkey Project from a High Level Design Overview, we then designed the route for Jointing Brick Built Chamber Builds along the route at 2-4km intervals, taking all aspects into consideration to manage road space/permits/tm/costs and ease of build, we also rerouted within PIA where possible to avoid as many Civils Dependencies as practicably possible, programmed in and completed any Civils Issues that needed Overlay or blockages, whilst raising these as A55s through Colt.

We started with TRR on the route, installed 14mm subduct using our Confined Space Trained operatives in the Manhole Route as much as possible, then we blew in a 288f Micro Fibre cable for 40km to link into Colt Network at either end, there were approximately 25 x 288f Joints to build along the route too.

These works were completed within budget, and before the client provided ECD date, which is a massive testament to CA Telecom from our Project Team right through to the Operatives on the ground, who worked relentlessly to beat the odds of a congested network, and multiple simultaneous Third Parties working parallel in the PIA WARFARE.

Case Study – ATOS – Colt PIA

Similar to our above Croydon to Egham Colt works, CA also completed another 40km job on behalf of Colt, going through the PIA Network, installing the same subduct, cable, chambers etc., as ATOS.

However their were additions to the previous case study works on this project, which can be read below.

450m Agricultural Field Dig

On these works we arranged access directly with the Grantor of the Land, organised works around the Farmer’s Crop Gathering and to suit their needs. We excavated these works with a 8 Ton Excavator, and a Field Trencher, we stripped the land with the grading bucket and put the top 300mm of soil to one side, we then used a Field Chain Trencher due to required depth and speed of works required, we excavated to a depth of 1.3m, installed a One Way 100mm Duct for our client Colt, ensuring we kept a minimum of the required 1.1m cover to the top of the installation. We then reinstated the trench with the organic as dug material and consolidated to prevent sinkage, then we reinstated the previously stored surface soil to ensure the Agricultural competency of the land once we had completed our works. At either end of the 450m trench we installed a Brick Built Jointing chamber to accommodate the cabling and splicing works, this was offset to ensure it was out of the agricultural vehicle track lines and suiting the Farmers conditions.

These entire works were completed in one weekend, fully reinstated, site clear, the whole field was tracked and smoothed off to remove any sight of our works and to prevent any damage to the integrity of the land’s future usage, the Farmer actually stated that we were possibly the best excavating crew he had ever witnessed, and had visions of mass crop damage and works to take a fortnight to complete, so another very satisfied client delivered upon by CA Telecom.

750m Carriageway/Verge Dig – Highway Road

These were Non-Standard Streetworks due to the layout of the Highway Asset, this required a lot of liaisons with the Highways Authority in order to get the permit approved in line with the required Works Methodology, permit conditions, Road layout, residents’ access etc.

This was technically a Road Closure required, but due to the fact it was in practicality a Dead End Lane, we had to come up with an agreed Work Methodology with the Highway.

We also had to facilitate a Watching Brief with Network Rail due to excavating underneath a Railway Bridge, this was organised with Network Rail directly, we had to furnish them with all of the specifications, RAMS, Site Drawings, Health & Safety agreements for Working within/underneath the Railway.

Either end of the works we had to install a Carriageway Brick Built Chamber, excavate approx. 750m of Carriageway and Verge, 2 x Carriageway Crossings, and install the subduct through these new works. Due to the verge being so close to edge of an Unsupported Carriageway we had to reinstate in accordance with SROH Section 9.2. We successfully completed these works in 7 days with a very content Highways Authority, and a pleased client due to speed of works and cost savings incurred.

Birmingham Business Park Wayleave Dig

These works were under a wayleave due to the Business Park being privately owned and the Carriageways being unadopted by the Local HA, so we arranged all accesses and agreements directly with the Business Park, on behalf of our client Colt.

Once all works methodologies, Civils Plans, Site Timings, and RAMS had been agreed we arranged the Start date for works, and the required Security Clearances.

Any Carriageway Incursion excavations had to be completed OOH and at night, due to not being able to have any positive Traffic impaction throughout Peak Hours in the Business Park, this meant having a rolling Shift Pattern for different crews to be able to cover the Day Shift and OOH Shifts, whilst also having to reinstate all Carriageway works live at night, to ensure the Road Space was clear of Traffic Management and any works.

These works involved 4 x 12m Carriageway Crossings, 160m of Manicured Specialist Verge, 5 x Brick Built FW6 Chambers, 4 x Core Drills into existing concrete chambers, all works were completed within 5 days of a double shift pattern to be able to complete all works in one visit, in order to reduce disruption and inconvenience to the private grounds as best as possible.

Folkestone to Croydon Twin Speed Pipe Install

These works were for our prestigious Client COLT, and of an extremely important nature as the end consumer was Eurotunnel and the works due to be completed were for a Cable upgrade and to link with France on data sensitive communications. CA’s have been a long-term supplier to COLT on other departments and contracts, but this was a large step towards the intended scaling up. We were awarded the works due to expanding the companies’ capabilities and resources to suit the works, due to these works being of a large nature, and Colt already having in place a settled Supply Partner to blow the fibre, we were awarded TRR, Subduct Install, civils for TRR related issues, and anything else encountered as we progressed with the works.

The Scope of works was for us to TRR/Route Prove 76km of Colt Network from Folkestone, Kent to Croydon, London. This meant starting with a Desktop design and maps provided by the client we had to program in to reflect site actuals and all subsidiary requirements, Traffic Management, Bus Stop Suspensions, OOH Working, Road Closures etc.

The Colt Network is built slightly different to the majority of the more modern works, this can make it more challenging in some aspects, as they have a tendency to drop chambers in 500m increments, and they run a 32mm ID subduct through their 110mm duct, also due to the time this network was built, it lends to have being one of the 1st installed in such a large capacity that the Carriageway was a lot less congested and therefore Colt’s network tends to be running down the Carriageway which always throws up it’s own issues to be considered.

CA Telecom had to initially Desktop Survey the route, program in previously found Civils issues, then Route Prove each Joint-to-Joint section at approx. 4km intervals, once proven and roped we were plan in the Subduct installation to keep the route moving forward and cabling available for the other party.

We had to use all forms of Cable/Subduct pulling equipment on these works due to the nature of the works, the length of the runs, Subduct drum length, we were to reduce the amount of connectors used along the route and to attempt as many 1500m full drum lengths as possible, and in some circumstances the ability to not be able to access some chambers along the route caused further obstacles to resolve, which meant at times we were pulling in well over 2km sections in with 2 x 14mm subducts and a back rope.

Along the route all civils we encountered were resolved, we had all forms of blockages/overlay/chamber issues to be planned/permitted and completed as we went, some delays on these meant skipping sections, shuffling resource and returning post civils to complete which can always create it’s own logistical issues, Colt also had not checked this part of the network for a while, so we had another major stumbling block to overcome that became evident at the very beginning, Carriageway Chambers and 10 + Years unmaintained meant for a substantial amount of Section 81 Frame and Cover replacements along the route. Some of these needed Demolishing and Rebuilding in Brick from scratch…

In total this project took 9 months to complete from initial receipt of works, through to sign off and subduct calibration/pressure testing, leaving a future proofed network for years to come and a very pleased client at the end of it, this has since lead to many larger projects of this nature being awarded to CA Telecom. A potentially difficult project, made simple, and a job very well done by all involved.