Cable and Wireless Application to Lay Fibre Optic Cable

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A decision made on 26 November 2010 regarding approval of Cable and Wireless application to lay fibre optic cable

Decision Reference: MD-T-2010-0107
Decision Summary Title :	Cable & Wireless Network 90kv circuit application		Date of Decision Summary:	28 October 2010
Decision Summary Author:	Streetworks Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Cable & Wireless’ Application To Lay Town Fibre Optic Access Network In The Highway		Date of Written Report:	28 October 2010
Written Report Author:	Streetworks Manager		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Cable & Wireless’ Application To Lay Town Fibre Optic Access Network In The Highway
Decision(s): The Minister approved the proposed route, programme, traffic management and final road reinstatements associated with the construction of a new fibre optic access network in St Helier.
Reason(s) for Decision: The Minister accepted that the proposed route, programme, traffic management and final road reinstatement met the Department’s requirements and that the infrastructure work was justified in the light of its positive benefit to the Island.
Resource Implications: TTS street works inspections both during works and later in relation to the monitoring of reinstatements.
Action Required: Street Works Manager to inform Cable & Wireless of the Minister’s decision.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Cable and Wireless Application to Lay Fibre Optic Cable

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

CABLE & WIRELESS’ APPLICATION TO LAY TOWN FIBRE OPTIC

ACCESS NETWORK IN THE HIGHWAY

Purpose of the Report

To obtain a Ministerial Decision regarding outline approval of Cable & Wireless’ (C&W) proposed street works in terms of service route, programme, traffic management and final reinstatements as the ‘main road’ Highway Authority.

Background

C&W currently provides for all its on-island fixed access network provisions through a wholesale arrangement with Jersey Telecom. This is used to support all customer on-island point to point services, the local loop component of all customer off-island bandwidth services and is also used to provide fixed access interconnection in support of C&W’s mobile network infrastructure.

C&W are investing £2.4 Million to build a new fibre optic access network in St Helier. This investment will enable the provision of business solutions and products over a wholly C&W owned fibre based network enabling fuller competition within the telecoms sector. Importantly the new network will offer the financial sector the option of a ‘diverse’ telecoms / data supply, enabling better business continuity planning.

Network & Work Details

The proposed Access Network (see attached Access Network Plan) is designed to pass as many current business customers as possible and will link into Foreshore (Queens Road) via leased fibres from Jersey Electricity Company to facilitate onward connectivity to the rest of the C&W worldwide network.

C&W is proposing to take over and use a number of disused gas mains from Jersey Gas. Based on current information, C&W could be using in the region of 670 metres of gas main which represents almost 25% of the total length. Use of the gas main will bring large savings in network build time (up to 40 days) and reduce overall disruption in key areas of St Helier. Although works will still be required in these sections to build joint chambers where the gas mains are intersected, wherever possible these joint chambers will be placed in the footway or in parking spaces to avoid problems with access during the build and for future maintenance.

Wherever disused gas mains cannot be used, C&W will install a number of ducts in a telecoms standard 300mm x 750mm trench. The installation of multiple ducts during the initial build programme will future proof the network and will ensure that any future network growth can be accommodated without the need to install more ducting.

C&W has also identified a number of properties within the catchment area of the access network where existing service is either already provided (via JT tails) or prospective qualified customers are located. Therefore, during the main build programme of the Access Network, C&W will install a single 50mm duct up to the boundary of these buildings.

Shared Working

In the interest of reducing disruption to the public the Department has identified opportunities for C&W to ‘trench share’ with Newtel Limited and Jersey Electricity Company Limited as set out in the attached Plan of Shared Works and Combined Works Programme.

Therefore, the Department has negotiated with all three companies who have agreed to this working arrangement and have appointed Geomarine Limited as their civil contractor and project co-coordinator.

Programme & Traffic Management

As set out in the attached Summary Project Programme C&W would like to propose a 12 months continuous programme of works starting with a number of small enabling works around the Esplanade / Castle Street junction in mid November 2010. The build programme would then like to roll out the installation of ducting for the access network in the following order:

Esplanade Central	Main road
Esplanade East	Main road
Gloucester Street	Main road
The Parade	By-road
Castle Street	Main road
Union Street	Main road
New Street	Main road
Burrard Street	Main road
Don Street	By-road
Minden Street	Main road
Bath Street	Main road
Peter Street	By-road
Hilary Street	By-road
La Motte Street	Main road
St James Street	Main road
Don Road	Main road
La Colomberie	Main road
Hill Street	Main road
Mulcaster Street	Main road

The work programme is principally defined by:

Co-ordination with Jersey Electricity 90Kv project along the Esplanade, Weighbridge Place and Castle Street (see Shared Works).
Co-ordination with Newtel’s work programme.
Seasonal constraints in tourist / shopping areas during Christmas, Easter (i.e. late April) and the summer.
The resurfacing of Gloucester Street by TTS from March 2011.

Major programme / traffic impact elements of the works are summarised as follows:

Esplanade Central from Castle Street to Gloucester Street (late November for four weeks): Work will be carried out under lane closure with Portable Traffic Signals generally in operation.
Esplanade East from Weighbridge Place to Castle Street (early January 2011 for six weeks): Eastbound traffic will be diverted along Commercial Street. This traffic management arrangement has previous worked well, with normal operation of the Bus Station possible. The critical issue is that the works will be cleared by Easter although final resurfacing (see Road Reinstatements) may not take place until the autumn.

Gloucester Street from the Parade to the Esplanade (mid November for four weeks): Work will be carried out during off peak times, phased parking suspension will be used to maintain two lanes of traffic.

Union Street, Burrard Street and Minden Place (late February 2011 for 16 weeks): Work will be undertaken using a combination of traffic management; however traffic during peak times will remain as normal.

La Motte Street (early August for two and a half weeks): To be determined based on availability of gas main but the worst case is phased lane closure.

St. James Street (late August for two and a half weeks): Worst case scenario is temporary traffic lights.

La Colomberie (mid October 2011 for two weeks): Worst case scenario is full road closure with diversions.

Hill Street and Mulcaster Street (late October 2011 for six weeks): To be determined based on availability of gas main (between Library Place and Wharf Street) but the worst case scenario is evening closure with diversions.

To minimize disruption during the duct installation phase of the project, the lengths of open trenches, and therefore length of lane closures, will be kept to a minimum. Otherwise works such as junction crossings etc. will be carried out during off peak times or out of hours such as in the evenings or on Sundays etc. as required to minimise disruption to the network.

Road Reinstatements

In addition to compliance with the ‘Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Main Roads’ the works include locations where the Department has negotiated ‘enhanced’ reinstatements requirements:

Gloucester Street: Due to the short time period between trenching works and the roads resurfacing (i.e. less than six months), Type 2 backfill material will be replaced with Foam Concrete to avoid settlement of the new road.

Esplanade East: Given the area between Weighbridge Place and Castle Street was remodelled in 2007 as part of the development of Liberation Station and is of high level of visual importance, Type 2 backfill material will be replaced with Foam Concrete and the surface course will extend from the kerb to the road centre line. Table tops etc. will be completely rebuilt. This work will be undertaken by TTS on behalf of the JEC, C&W and Newtel who will share costs.

C&W have also agreed to use recessed access covers with granite infill when locating joint boxes in paved areas.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the proposed service route, programme, traffic management and final road reinstatements.

Reason(s) for Decision

The proposed service route, programme, traffic management and final road reinstatements meet the Department’s requirements and the infrastructure work is justified in the light of its positive benefits to the Island.

Resource Implications

Normal TTS street works inspections both during works and later in relation to the monitoring of reinstatements.

Action Required

Street Works Manager to inform Cable & Wireless of the Minister’s Decision.

Written by:

Street Works Manager

Approved by:

Director, Municipal Services

Attachments:

Access Network Plan, Plan of Shared Works, Combined Works Programme, Summary Project Programme.

WR Cable & Wireless Application to Lay Fibre Optic Cable.docI:\Minister\2010\Ministerial Decisions\MD 00 Cable & Wireless Application to Lay Fibre Optic Cable\WR Cable & Wireless Application to Lay Fibre Optic Cable.doc