Latest News: Innovative Sheet Piling Equipment is in Use on M62

August 5th, 2019

Innovative Sheet Piling Equipment is in Use on M62

 

A stretch of motorway carrying 110,000 vehicles per day is undergoing smart motorway transformation with help from Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd, whose innovative sheet piling equipment and steel sheet piles are playing a major part in the project’s infrastructure widening.

Junctions 10-12 of the M62 – the strategic route for traffic moving cross-country from the north west to Yorkshire and Humberside – are at either end of a stretch of motorway carrying high volumes of traffic between Liverpool and Manchester. Junction 10 is the Croft Interchange where the M62 meets the M6, whilst Junction 12 is the Winton Interchange between the M62, M60 and M602. Smart motorway work is underway, with the goal of improving the driver journey but, whilst this is undertaken, frustrations can occur.

This is where we at Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd come in, as we have devised a solution that speeds up the infrastructure widening works required for smart motorway upgrade work, to both reduce motorists’ angst and cut costs significantly.

Innovative Sheet Piling Equipment M62 Smart Motorway Works
Innovative Sheet Piling Equipment M62 Smart Motorway Widening Scheme

 

Innovative Sheet Piling Equipment

The M62 is just one of five major highways to date on which we at Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd have deployed our unique TM 12/15 LR Sheet Piling Rig – a long-reach sheet piling rig that makes light work of the sheet pile projects with which traditional telescopic leader rigs struggle.

There has been an increased use of sheet piles as an earthwork-widening solution on Highways, where work is typically undertaken in a restricted working area and extensive enabling work is normally required so that standard telescopic leader rigs can carry out sheet pile projects.

With our unique TM 12/15 LR Sheet Pile Rig, a much longer arm extends the reach to 8.1 metres – around three metres longer than any other rig – making enabling works unnecessary, as the rig can stand on the existing structure. There is no compromise in power when it comes to driving in the sheet piles, as all of the core benefits of a telescopic leader rig are still to be enjoyed. Using the TM 12/15 LR sheet pile rig removes much of the time and cost associated with highway widening, also reducing the disruption to journeys.

Innovative Sheet Piling Equipment M62 Smart Motorway Infrastructure Scheme
Innovative Sheet Piling Equipment M62 Smart Motorway

 

Sheet Piling in Cuttings and Embankments

If the highway-widening work is taking place on a cutting, the use of the TM 12/15 LR can remove the need to clear vegetation. It also avoids the team having to carry out extensive earthwork excavation and backfill and there are no health and safety concerns with regard to stability, when operating on a slope.

On an embankment, using the TM 12/15 LR Sheet Pile Rig means not having to cause significant traffic disruption, whilst building a working platform. It also avoids the team having to handle an earthworks’ backfill and can help steer the project clear of any third-party land issues, or arguments over site boundaries.

Andrew Cotton, Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd’s managing director, says: “We have only had this rig since last October, but have already seen it deployed by some major infrastructure widening projects. Once a Tier-1 contractor has seen our sheet pile rig, they can perceive the huge benefits that it brings for themselves. Its performance speaks for itself and its positive impact on the project’s budget is undeniable. We are proud to have come up with this innovative solution within the sheet piling sector.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS
Sheet Piling (UK) Limited is one of the UK's leading piling contractors. Owning and operating a comprehensive range of specialist piling equipment Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd also carry extensive stocks of new and used piles enabling rapid reaction to any urgent requirements or emergency situations.