Highways News from AGC - M69 Project Success
Our highways joint venture AGC has successfully completed its first major barrier scheme on National Highways' vehicle restraint system contract on its Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF).
We used a find-and-fix method on a long stretch of the M69 identifying safety critical defects and their swift remediation. We were unable to predict what would be required from one day to the next, so it was essential for us to work together with our client National Highways, partner Chevron Traffic Management and our supply chain. Working in collaboration combined with our adaptive management and delivery capabilities led to the contract’s success.
Over the course of the scheme, we surveyed a total of 30,800m barrier, and 5,950m beam and removed and replaced 4,500 barrier posts.
The original scope was for 15 kilometres of the M69 between junctions 1 and 3 in the East Midlands. But, as we progressed and with fewer than anticipated defects, the scope was extended to include 9 kilometres of the M6 to junction 1 heading into the West Midlands, completed for the same budget.
The barrier replacements comprised single-sided corrugated and open-box beams, while 24,000 metres of single and double-sided barriers were re-tensioned.
Establishing our wider ability as a principal contractor of multi-disciplinary works we carried out the role when required, at short notice, to allow other contractors to work within our lane closures; successfully co-ordinating and vetting surfacing works and tree felling and street lighting operations for safety compliance and integration.
Additionally, we used our internal CCTV team to provide surveys of the drainage routes within the vicinity of our barrier activities. This extra activity demonstrates that AGC offers much more than repairs and replacements of vehicle restraint systems and that we can provide National Highways with a total project management solution.
The M69 scheme started in July 2022 and with the added works, was completed in December, as planned in the revised programmme.
SAFETY
- Zero lost-time incidents and zero AFR showing our commitment to National Highways’ ‘Home Safe & Well’ ethos
- Providing safety leadership by acting as principal contractor for the various additional work
- Promoting mental wellbeing initiatives such as “natter over a platter” and World Mental Health Day
- A scheme free from service strikes, despite breaking ground on thousands of occasions
CUSTOMER
- Providing reliable journeys for road users by effectively managing road space and adapting to major projects on the M1 and M6.
- Minimising future impact on road users by sharing our closures with other suppliers to complete different work, safely at the same time
- Reducing noise and pollution for communities nearby by using solar and battery-powered plant
- Improving network safety
DELIVERY
- Efficiently managing the budget, by completing 38% more barrier work for the same original value
- Providing a responsive service by collaborating with National Highways and traffic management provider Chevron.
- Using find and fix swiftly correcting repairs and replacements without re-visits
- Internal CCTV drainage survey capabilities
- Completing the scheme on time and efficiently
