In summer 2019, Extrudakerb commenced the Surface Water Channel (SWC) and Rigid Concrete Barrier (RCB) Central Reserve works on the M6 J2 to 4 Smart Motorways Project (SMP) in collaboration with Balfour Beatty Vinci Joint Venture (BBVJV). Extrudakerb and Balfour Beatty have a long-standing successful relationship and the introduction of Vinci to the Joint Venture has only further strengthened the team.

The Central Reserve works, consisting of 10km of SWC, 17km of BBS Concrete Barrier (CB) and 2km of BBS Wide Trough Concrete Barrier (CB-TW) which is due for completion late 2019 to facilitate an overall project completion date of early 2020. In addition to the slipformed elements, there are a significant amount of works which will be constructed by hand, this ranges from transitions into structures and gantries, bifurcations from single to twin barrier, expansion joints at underbridges to emergency crossing points (ECP’s) which are utilised by emergency services in the event of an incident.

Works originally commenced on the M6 J2 to 4 SMP back in October of 2018 with the installation of 15km of SWC within the verges. These works were successfully delivered to programme assisted by Extrudakerb’s very own high-tech concrete trucks complete with an auto slump control system. The auto slump control system allows the batch plant to provide actual mix data information to the concrete truck, which in turn then allows the truck to monitor and deliver concrete to site as required without the need for site intervention.

The coming months will see the introduction of multiple slipform pavers and multiple hand lay gangs as we embark on ensuring programmed outputs are achieved and/or exceeded to ensure the overall project completion date is maintained.

There is no doubt what lies ahead will introduce the odd challenge but the collaborative approach to date on this project has brought success and will continue to do so.