Kier Highways has used its rapid setting material for M6 repair scheme, which has resulted in cutting lane closures by 35 days. 

The company explained that the new material has enabled them to implement a different traffic management model, preventing permanent lane closures, and helping UK Plc save £35m on a single project.

Traffic was allowed to pass through three narrow lanes, while the company performed the repair scheme on the M6 from Monday to Friday until completion of the project. 

Construction firms also noted that the lane closures could have led to traffic delays by nearly 45 minutes from Monday to Thursday, increasing it to 55 minutes on a Friday, which on a scheme of seven weeks duration equates to a £35m impact on GDP. 

Kier explained that it was able to implement weekend delivery model because of its rapid setting material, which reaches design strength in 18 hours instead of the traditional three-day duration. 

"Having extensively trialled the product, we were trusted to use this new method and it has yielded excellent results, both in the efficiencies and savings and solution quality."

As part of the project work, a team of 38 members were engaged in repairing damaged concrete and waterproofing material underneath the road. In addition, 130m of expansion joints was installed to provide additional strength and flexibility to the carriageway. 

Kier Highways executive director Dave Wright said: “In close collaboration with our clients and supply chain, we’ve intentionally focussed on pioneering new ways of doing things.

“Sometimes it's new ways of working, sometimes its new products and sometimes its new technology, but they all provide ways to deliver a more efficient and cost-effective solution, increase safety and reduce disruption for the travelling public. 

“This ranges from being the first, with partner Chevron, to ban carriageway crossings, now a pan-industry standard, to pioneering the 1,000t approach (tripling the amount of blacktop laid in a single evening) now used widely across the sector. 

"The use of this new material is testament to having a collaborative client in Highways England and offers tremendous scope for reducing disruption nationwide. Having extensively trialled the product, we were trusted to use this new method and it has yielded excellent results, both in the efficiencies and savings and in the quality of the solution."