Metrail Construction, a specialist in bridge deck waterproofing and concrete repairs, is injecting resin into the carriageway to prevent it crumbling.
The hard shoulder, lane one and lane two of the eastbound carriageway of the M180 between junctions 1 (Tudworth) and鈥�3 (Midmoor), near Scunthorpe, has experienced issues with water getting through carriageway joints and under the concrete.鈥� As鈥痸ehicles drive along the road,鈥痶he concrete鈥痯ushes鈥痶he water back up through the joints, causing鈥痶he surface to鈥痙eteriorate.鈥��
Resin is now being injected to stabilise the concrete. While not a new solution, it is the first time it has been used on England鈥檚 motorways.
Under the 拢5.2m scheme, the top layer of the road has been planed off to expose around 30,000 square metres of concrete. Some 20,000 holes are then drilled into the concrete, which are filled with short, narrow tubes called packers. Resin is then injected into the packers through the concrete, which forces out any water held underneath. The resin then hardens and stabilises the concrete base before the carriageway is resurfaced.
鈥疦补迟颈辞苍补濒鈥�Highways鈥痯roject manager Esref Ulas said:鈥��淭he M180 was built鈥痑round 40 years ago鈥痑nd鈥痟as served鈥痮ur customers鈥痺ell but鈥痳ecently鈥痺e鈥檝e had to carry out a鈥痭umber of鈥痷nplanned鈥痳oadworks鈥痮n this section due to water damage,鈥痺hich we know has been frustrating for people.鈥� This new approach to stabilising the concrete should make those unplanned roadworks a thing of the past. The resin is designed for longevity and should extend the life of the road鈥檚 surface by another 10 years or more.鈥�
The resin injection work, which started last autumn, is being carried out by Metrail Construction. It is a method used by Metrail鈥檚 to stabilise rail tunnels, including on the London Underground, but this is the first time it has been used on England鈥檚 strategic road network.
Metrail managing director Martyn Sherwood said: 鈥淲e are particularly pleased to be working closely with National Highways to introduce this innovative technique to the maintenance of the UK鈥檚 strategic road network.聽
鈥淭he unique formula of the resin used and its rapid hardening capability, which allows carriageways to be opened much more quickly, is cost effective and a gamechanger for concrete road maintenance in the UK.鈥�
Once the concrete stabilisation is complete a second phase of the project to repair and seal the joints between the concrete slabs will be carried out.
The whole programme of work is scheduled to end in February.聽
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
