Castleford Full Fibre Installation – Phased Civils Delivery
Client: Grain Communications Ltd
Location: Castleford, West Yorkshire
Sector: Telecoms Infrastructure
Delivery Period: Jan 2023 – Mar 2024 (Completed in 3 Phases)
Scope: Fibre ducting, jointing chambers, reinstatement, cabinet plinths, civils works across Castleford
Project Overview
Durkan & Sons Ltd acted as principal contractor for the full fibre broadband rollout in Castleford, delivered on behalf of Grain Communications Ltd. Works were phased across three infrastructure stages to enable broadband access throughout the town.
The scope included large volumes of duct installation, jointing chambers, reinstatement of paved and soft areas, and fibre cabinet base construction. All works were coordinated with the local authority to minimise disruption and maintain access to residential properties and businesses.
Scope of Works (All Phases Combined)
- Ducting Installed:
- 2-way duct in carriageways: 1,000m+
- 2-way duct in footways: 1,400m+
- 1-way duct in footways/verges: 11,900m+
- Chambers Installed: 140 FW4 jointing chambers, 30 FW2 pulling chambers
- Fibre Cabinets: 3 cabinet plinths installed (one per phase)
- Reinstatement: Concrete flags, bitmac surfacing, verge restoration
Phased Programme
Phase 1 – North Castleford (Jan–Apr 2023)
Properties Passed: 930+
Ducting: 5,100m+
Streets: Glebe St, Ambler St, Hugh St, Smawthorne Ave
Phase 2 – Central Castleford (May–Jul 2023)
Properties Passed: 950+
Ducting: 5,300m+
Notes: Complex reinstatement and concrete-paved footways
Phase 3 – South Castleford (Aug 2023–Mar 2024)
Properties Passed: 720+
Ducting: 3,900m+
Streets: Lightfoot Ave, Gregory Rd, South View and surrounding
Digital Delivery, Safety & GPS Site Measurement
Throughout all phases, Durkan & Sons Ltd utilised a custom-built in-house mobile app for real-time control, quality assurance, and field reporting.
The app included:
- Digital forms for Street Works Start/End, daily plant checks, and van inspections
- Automated GPS-tracked site measures for trenching, ducting, and chamber locations
- Geo-tagged photos, digital signatures, and timestamps for full audit traceability
- Instant syncing to internal safety and productivity dashboards
This system eliminated paperwork, improved oversight, and provided site management teams with live visibility of daily progress and compliance. Site measurements were logged directly into digital forms using device-based geolocation, ensuring accuracy and accountability.
Engineering Challenges
- Concrete paving reinstatement across 2,000m+ of trenching
- Live working in residential streets with limited access
- Utility crossings in service-congested areas
- Coordination with homeowners and local authority contacts
Project Outcome
The successful delivery of Castleford’s full fibre civils package enabled Grain Communications to extend high-speed broadband to over 2,600 homes. The phased approach ensured disruption was minimised and each handover was fully signed off with photographic and digital compliance records.
All works were delivered on time, to spec, and with a robust audit trail of safety checks, asset inspections, and GPS-verified field measures—supporting long-term network reliability and future access planning.
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