Highways England has announced it is investing £650,000 to help people living near roadworks benefit from a new innovation which will mean less noise, less dust and less vibration during work.
Currently large excavators are used to remove the waterproof layer on road surfaces – effectively a 'steel bucket with teeth' digging into the surface.
However the new Deck Scraper vehicle uses a blade to shave the membrane off more quietly and without taking out chunks of the road surface.
Highways England teamed up with industry leaders to create the machine that was purpose-designed and built to offer a safer, more environmentally-sound and efficient process.
It was developed by partners Kier, CLM construction and US-based National Flooring Equipment with the first prototype unveiled to industry representatives earlier this month.
Highways England Innovations Lead for the Midlands, Lisa Maric, said: "Current methods to remove the waterproof layer are quite antiquated with environmental issues and some risk to the workforce. We wanted to develop a unique machine that would be more efficient and improve the safety of road workers while easing the impact on the environment and communities.
"Instead of essentially using a steel bucket with teeth to remove the membrane, we can use a blade to simply peel it off – quietly, effectively and without damaging the road which will also save time and money.
"It is anticipated that thanks to the Deck Scraper, this method will now set the benchmark expected for membrane removal throughout the country."
Waterproof membranes are routinely used on structures such as bridges and underpasses to help protect the structure from corrosive damage caused by winter gritting operations.
It has to be removed to undertake concrete repairs, re-waterproofing and resurfacing and this is traditionally done with an excavator.
As well as the environmental impact of current methods such as dust and noise, there is a greater risk to the workforce using heavy plant often in a small area.
The Deck Scraper is a lot smaller than excavators and diggers and does not need an arm or a bucket. It also gives the operator 360-degree visibility.
Kier Highways Senior Project Manager Mark Sheppard said: "This was an interesting opportunity to develop a prototype specifically designed to make the task of waterproof membrane removal techniques more efficient, cost effective and better for the environment.
"By working with our design partners CLM and specialist manufacturer National Flooring Equipment, the project has culminated in the production of a method far removed from the existing techniques which are quite brutal and can often introduce additional damage to bridge decks as well as being extremely noisy and dusty.
"And we have been able to do that without compromising quality, output or negatively impacting on road users."
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Construction News
23/11/2020
Highways England To Invest £650,000 To Cut Back On Roadworks Noise
Latest Construction News
22/04/2024
Winvic Construction has been awarded a contract to construct Greenbox's latest development in Darlington. Greenbox is a joint venture between Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, acting on behalf of its clients, and Citivale, a specialist logistics developer and operator, to ...
22/04/2024
Peabody has appointed Higgins Partnerships to build 189 homes at Deptford Landings, southeast London. The project will not only tackle the urgent demand for affordable homes in London but will also be Peabody's first venture into providing homes that achieve Passive House certification. The ...
22/04/2024
Dudleys Consulting Engineers has started works to support in the delivery of a new £3.4 million community hub transformation project in Hunslet, Leeds. Preparation works have started on the site of the Old Cockburn Sports Hall which is being redeveloped by Hamara Healthy Living Centre. The project ...
22/04/2024
McLaren Construction has been selected to build a four-story last mile logistics hub for Southwark and central London. The firm was appointed by British Land. The first of a new generation of multi-storey logistics hubs by British Land, the 140,000 square foot building on a 0.78 hectare site on ...
22/04/2024
When starting any structural project, choosing the right timber is key. In this blog post, we delve into the properties, uses, and benefits of ...
22/04/2024
Scaffex24, the scaffolding industry's premier exhibition, conference, and awards ball, is thrilled to announce the first speakers for its highly anticipated inaugural event, set to take place on November 29th, 2024, in Belfast. With a focus on Opportunity, Meet the Buyer, Innovation, and Training ...
22/04/2024
When undertaking a property renovation in London, the inevitable pile of debris and unwanted materials can quickly become overwhelming. Clearing out this waste efficiently and responsibly is crucial, not just for keeping your project on track, but also for adhering to local disposal regulations. ...
22/04/2024
Property and construction consultancy Gleeds has announced two senior appointments, with project management experts Andrew Todman and Craig Ward joining the firm from Avison Young. The new hires will aim to drive growth in Gleeds’ major London projects division and continue to develop the ...
22/04/2024
Network Rail is to carry out essential work on the platforms at Clarbeston Road station. Buses will replace trains at all stops between Carmarthen and Milford Haven/Fishguard Harbour on the West Wales lines from Saturday to Tuesday 27-30 April inclusive. Network Rail engineers will be working at ...
22/04/2024
Hurstwood Holdings has agreed the largest office letting of the year in Trafford Park and Salford following the 18,043 sq ft letting to housing trust, the L&Q Group. Nexus, the Hurstwood Holdings owned Grade A office building, is situated at the entrance to City Park Business Village, less than ...