Hanson to supply materials for Weymouth Relief Road
HANSON UK have secured the supply of core construction materials to Skanska Civil Engineering for the A354 Weymouth relief road in Dorset – the largest road-building project in southern England.
The £87.4 million scheme will require over 200,000 tonnes of aggregate, 20,000 cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete and 80,000 tonnes of asphalt.
Construction of the new 7km single-carriageway relief road, which is due to open in Spring 2011, will include a new park and ride facility as well as cycleways and bridleways, nine new bridges and the removal of an existing hairpin bend.
With sailing for the 2012 Olympics taking place at Weymouth and Portland, the new road will improve access as well as reducing journey times between Weymouth and Dorchester.
Aggregates for the project will be supplied from Hanson’s West Knighton sand and gravel quarry, in Dorset, and Whatley limestone quarry in Somerset, which is also supplying the asphalt, while the concrete will come from local plants in Weymouth and Dorchester.
Hanson UK’s major projects manager, Sean Hunter, said: ‘During our early discussions with Skanska it became apparent that working together offered the greatest opportunity for both companies. Our involvement began in 2006 when Skanska was still tendering for the project.
‘Limiting the carbon footprint was a key criteria for Dorset County Council, and the fact that our Portland cement has the lowest embodied CO2 per tonne – 5% below the industry average – was a significant factor. The location of both our aggregate and concrete units close to the construction site was another important aspect.’
The £87.4 million scheme will require over 200,000 tonnes of aggregate, 20,000 cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete and 80,000 tonnes of asphalt.
Construction of the new 7km single-carriageway relief road, which is due to open in Spring 2011, will include a new park and ride facility as well as cycleways and bridleways, nine new bridges and the removal of an existing hairpin bend.
With sailing for the 2012 Olympics taking place at Weymouth and Portland, the new road will improve access as well as reducing journey times between Weymouth and Dorchester.
Aggregates for the project will be supplied from Hanson’s West Knighton sand and gravel quarry, in Dorset, and Whatley limestone quarry in Somerset, which is also supplying the asphalt, while the concrete will come from local plants in Weymouth and Dorchester.
Hanson UK’s major projects manager, Sean Hunter, said: ‘During our early discussions with Skanska it became apparent that working together offered the greatest opportunity for both companies. Our involvement began in 2006 when Skanska was still tendering for the project.
‘Limiting the carbon footprint was a key criteria for Dorset County Council, and the fact that our Portland cement has the lowest embodied CO2 per tonne – 5% below the industry average – was a significant factor. The location of both our aggregate and concrete units close to the construction site was another important aspect.’
