ROAD RESURFACING

CHALLENGE

Queens Park School is an old Victorian school with no vehicle access. The access is through a single gate into the playground. We are hand laying 130 tonnes of asphalt using wheelbarrows. Because it will be physically demanding, we will have nine operatives per day to lay it over six days.

Normally roads like this would only be resurfaced. Longevity would not be ensured and asphalt would continue to crack due to poor road foundations. The road would need to be resurfaced again in two to three years or sooner so we will be providing quality eco-friendly resurfacing at a cheaper cost ensuring a safer environment for children, staff, visitors and car drivers.

There will be less carbon emissions too.

THE RESULTS

Normally roads like this would only be resurfaced.

Longevity would not be ensured and asphalt would continue to crack due to poor road foundations. The road would need to be resurfaced again in two to three years or sooner. 

Because Brighton & Hove City Council are taking a strategic approach to its road problems, it is investing in fixing underlying problems such as those found in road foundations or in the subbase, meaning there will not need to be so many roadworks in the future.

PROJECT SCOPE

• Details to follow once the project is completed
• We will spend one on site
• 3,663 sq m of improvements will be carried out
• Saved on waste going to landfill and on the use of marine aggregates
• Over £1m-worth of plant will be deployed during the project

CARBON SAVINGS

In this case, and in line with Hailsham Roadways’ ethical approach, it will be built in a more environmentally friendly way.

Carbon savings are made by recycling materials dug from the existing broken road, not using aggregates from the sea or quarries.

This follows circular economy principles of designing waste out of the environment, keeping materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

Normally, asphalt contaminated with tar cannot be recycled back to hot asphalt as when it is heated it becomes carcinogenic, unfortunately it often so normally it goes to landfill.

During this project all dug out material including that contaminated with tar asphalt was  recycled and put back in the same road. The road as sub-base will be made of recycled dig-out plus adding recycled material strengthening agents.

This project will not only save on waste going to landfill but on the use of new aggregates and the carbon footprint of transportation and the effects on marine life from sea drenching it takes to get to site.

Many highly skilled operatives, supervisors and engineers were involved.

WORKING DURING LOCKDOWN

This repair project will be carried out during COVID-19 lockdown.

Hailsham Roadways’ operatives are considered key workers as they help keep the region’s roads and footpaths repaired and operational. 

Lockdown presents extra emotional and physical challenges.

The team has to socially distance from each other and from members of the public.

Keeping two metres apart in the construction industry is not always possible. This causes reputational, health and safety and mental pressures.  Every working person is scrutinised by the public.

Managing tension ias extremely important and the Roadways team does it successfully. 

Additional safety and information mechanisms put in place are:

•       only one operative per vehicle
•       additional welfare and hand sanitizing facilities
•       COVID-19 signage / boards were introduced for the public and for operatives on sites
•       every team had a COVID-19 marshal to remind about social distancing and easy up changes required to be implemented to keep everyone safe