We are pleased to present this book which showcases ... - WSP Group

The busiest section of motorway in Europe, carrying over 200 000
vehicles per day, lies to the west of London on the M25 orbital, close
to Heathrow airport and between the strategically important M3 and
M4 motorways leading to England’s south and west coasts.
WSP, in a joint venture with Gifford & Partners (GWSP), is providing
engineering design, design project management and construction
certification services to widen the M25 from four to five and six
lanes in both directions over a distance of 11 km.Another major
element is the design and supervision of a new spur road and free
flow interchange from the M25 to Heathrow Airport’s prestigious
new Terminal 5 building.This includes 8 km of new link roads and
five new major bridges, including a viaduct across the M25 and
an environmentally and aesthetically sensitive bridge over the
River Colne.
This flagship scheme for the UK Highways Agency demonstrates
a range of innovative road widening techniques which pave the way
for future motorway widening.These include a unique retaining wall
design and construction process developed by GWSP in conjunction
with the contractor, Balfour Beatty, extremely complex geometry to
fit the widened road into tight width constraints, and a sustainable
solution including the extensive use of recycled materials such as
granular fill from the demolition of old Wembley Stadium.
The project provides considerable environmental benefits for both
road users and the adjoining local communities, with improvements
such as environmentally sensitive lighting, low noise surfacing and
acoustically absorbent environmental barriers.There is also extensive
new landscaping including the planting of hundreds of semi-mature trees.
A key requirement of the Highways Agency was that there should
be minimal disruption to road users.This was achieved through
exemplary traffic management and vehicle recovery systems,
maintaining four lanes of traffic in each direction during daytime
hours, setting up a dedicated public information helpline and providing
a reception, refreshments and crèche area for stranded motorists.
Working closely with the Highways Agency,Atkins and Balfour Beatty
and all other members of the project team, GWSP as designer has
played a key role in contributing towards the Highways Agency’s aim
of meeting its vision of “Safe roads, reliable journeys and informed
travellers”. Delivered on time at the end of November 2005,
the end product is of the highest quality, providing a new section
of aesthetically pleasing motorway, with considerably reduced
congestion for the foreseeable future and an attractive access
route to Terminal 5 at Heathrow.
“The successful and timely completion of the M25
widening has highlighted the skills of the professional
team as well as demonstrating a range of innovative
road widening techniques which pave the way for
future motorway widening.”
Peter Anderson, Project Director for Balfour Beatty
Client:
The Highways Agency and Heathrow Airport Limited (BAA)
Project team:
Contractor: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd
Employers agent:Atkins
Project value:
£148M
WSP services:
Structural engineering
Highway engineering
Design project management
Works inspection
Geotechnical engineering
Environmental design (landscaping and ecology)
Communications and lighting design
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