Vital resurfacing project on the A2, one of the UK’s major transport arteries!

Roadways, as the Principal Contractor, successfully delivered a vital resurfacing project on the A2, one of the UK’s major transport arteries. This 57-day project included the self-delivery of 25.5 km of asphalt surfacing and the seamless coordination of multiple contractors under the direction of National Highways (NH). The project’s success was driven by Roadways’ ethos: “Roadways the Right Way”—ensuring works were delivered with no safety or quality issues and within agreed timeframes. The scheme also highlighted excellent collaboration between NH’s design, asset, and delivery teams and all contractors involved.

A significant milestone was the super closure from 8th–21st July 2024, which allowed extensive works to be carried out concurrently by multiple teams, significantly reducing future disruptions and minimising inconvenience to road users. The Superclosure enabled contractors to contribute 600+ additional collaborative hours of work in the final week alone.

BACKGROUND

• Project Overview: The A2 resurfacing scheme aimed to improve safety, enhance surface durability, and ensure long-term functionality on a critical stretch of the UK’s road network.
• Role: Roadways served as Principal Contractor, delivering high-quality surfacing works and integrating the activities of diverse contractors.
• Timeline: The project spanned 57 days, with major highlights including the super closure in July and a high-productivity final week from 19–22 November 2024.

KEY CHALLENGES

• Operational Efficiency: Execute a significant volume of work within tight schedules while maintaining quality.
• Collaboration: Coordinate with NH and contractors to maximise the productivity of shared closures.
• Minimizing Disruption: Deliver works while maintaining access for road users and minimising congestion.

SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIES

Efficient Surfacing Operations:

• Material Handled: Delivered 25.5 km of asphalt, including 1,700 tonnes of material removed and replaced within a single 26-hour working window over four days during the final week.
• High-Performance Delivery: Deployed advanced machinery and optimised workflows, ensuring durable and high-quality results

Super Closure Execution:

• Scope: The super closure (8–21 July 2024) extended from M2 Junction 2 to the A2 Bean turn-off, enabling uninterrupted, high-volume operations.
• Collaborative Impact: Allowed multiple contractors, including Roadways, Heidelberg, Mway Comms, Kier Schemes and Maintenance, Skanska, WJ, and others, to work simultaneously, significantly reducing the need for future closures.

Collaboration with NH and Contractors:

• Roadways worked closely with NH’s design, asset, and delivery teams, ensuring clear alignment on project objectives and operational plans.
• Contractors were fully integrated into the shared road space, completing tasks such as:
• Topographic and CCTV surveys.
• VRS repairs and replacements.
• Light column head replacements.
• Structural inspections and surface testing.
• Drainage work was also carried out as well as well as led signage and vrs replacement.

Noise and Access Management:

• Implemented noise mitigation strategies, including acoustic barriers and designated cutting zones, to minimise disruption to local communities.
• Maintained pedestrian access and proactively communicated with stakeholders to accommodate residential and commercial access needs.

OUTCOMES

Operational Success:

• The scheme was delivered with no safety incidents caused by contractors, no quality issues, and within the agreed timeframe, reflecting Roadways’ commitment to its ethos of “The Right Way.”
• Achieved high standards in resurfacing and supporting works, ensuring long-term durability and safety of the A2.
  

Efficiency Gains:

• The super closure enabled the concurrent delivery of multiple large-scale operations, significantly reducing future closures and associated disruptions.
• Enabled contractors to contribute 600+ additional collaborative hours of work in the final week alone with having over 30 operatives supplied by different contractors on every shift. Over 4800 man-hours across 16 shifts were in operation.
  

Collaborative Excellence:

• The project’s success was built on exceptional collaboration between NH’s design, asset, and delivery teams and all contractors, ensuring a unified approach to planning and execution.
• Proactive communication and shared objectives fostered seamless integration of tasks, meeting and exceeding stakeholder expectations.

Reduced Future Disruptions:

• By consolidating essential works into shared closures, the scheme significantly reduced the need for future road closures, ensuring smoother traffic flow and less inconvenience for road users.

ANALYSIS AND INSIGHTS

Key Success Factors:

• Strategic planning and clear communication between NH, Roadways, and contractors.
• Effective use of a super closure to maximise productivity and reduce disruption.
• Adherence to Roadways’ ethos ensured safety, quality, and timely delivery.
  

Lessons Learned:

• Early integration of planning with NH’s design and asset teams ensures seamless execution.
• Collaborative use of road closures optimises resource utilisation and minimises public inconvenience.
  

Wider Applicability:

• The collaborative approach demonstrated on the A2 scheme offers a replicable model for future projects, emphasising the value of shared objectives and efficient execution.

CONCLUSION

The A2 resurfacing scheme is a testament to the success of Roadways’ ethos: “Roadways the Right Way.” By prioritizing safety, quality, and timeliness, and fostering close collaboration with NH’s design, asset, and delivery teams, the project not only met its objectives but also set a benchmark for future infrastructure works.

Through strategic planning and integration of multiple contractors, the scheme delivered high-quality resurfacing while facilitating additional essential works, minimizing future closures, and reducing congestion. This project exemplifies how collaborative execution and adherence to core values can lead to outstanding outcomes in large-scale infrastructure delivery.

Contractors who made it happen:

• Roadways – Principal Contractor 
• Heidelberg
• Mway Comms
• Kier Schemes and Maintenance
• WJ
• Chevron
• DGL Testing
• Osmonds
• Skanska
• JM Clark
• Foster Contractor
• Steadline