The River Mersey (Mersey Gateway Bridge) Order 2011

55.—(1) The undertaker shall before commencing construction of any specified work supply to Network Rail proper and sufficient plans of that work for the reasonable approval of the engineer and the specified work shall not be commenced except in accordance with such plans as have been approved in writing by the engineer or settled by arbitration.

(2) The approval of the engineer under sub-paragraph (1) shall not be unreasonably withheld, and if by the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the date on which such plans have been supplied to Network Rail the engineer has not intimated disapproval of those plans and the grounds of disapproval the engineer shall be deemed to have approved the plans as submitted.

(3) If by the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the date on which such plans have been supplied to Network Rail, Network Rail gives notice to the undertaker that Network Rail desires itself to construct any part of a specified work which in the opinion of the engineer will or may affect the stability of railway property or the safe operation of traffic on the railways of Network Rail then, if the undertaker desires such part of the specified work to be constructed, Network Rail shall construct it without unnecessary delay on behalf of and to the reasonable satisfaction of the undertaker in accordance with the plans approved or deemed to be approved or settled under this paragraph, and under the supervision (where appropriate and if given) of the undertaker.

(4) When signifying approval of the plans the engineer may specify any protective works (whether temporary or permanent) which in the engineer’s opinion should be carried out before the commencement of the construction of a specified work to ensure the safety or stability of railway property or the continuation of safe and efficient operation of the railways of Network Rail or the services of operators using the same (including any relocation, de-commissioning and removal of works, apparatus and equipment necessitated by a specified work), and such protective works as may be reasonably necessary for those purposes shall be constructed by Network Rail or by the undertaker, if Network Rail so desires, and such protective works shall be carried out at the expense of the undertaker in either case without unnecessary delay and the undertaker shall not commence the construction of the specified works until the engineer has notified the undertaker that the protective works have been completed to the engineer’s reasonable satisfaction.